anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News http://anjie.info/news.html Anjie Carpenter: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:02:04 -0800 Endorsements http://anjie.info/news.html#3 touch your heart with every song on her CD. But fasten your seat belt
before you listen to 'Glory'." ~ Papa Don Schroeder, Producer of "Turn the Quiet Up", 2006

I have worked with Anjie as a co-writer and performer and she displays a gift for not only presenting her music in a positive and entertaining way, but also communicates well with her audience. She is a blessing to those she comes in contact with. ~ Buzz Cason, Nashville, TN 2007

"Anjie is awesome. Everyone in her presence falls in love with her. What a personality! " ~ J Aaron Brown, Publisher/Producer, Nashville, TN, 2007]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#3 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Endorsements ~ Palisades http://anjie.info/news.html#14
Robin Hood
Director
The Palisades Country CLub
Charlotte, NC]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#14 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Flashback to Village at Sandhill Summer Concert http://anjie.info/news.html#26 Whew! It was the hottest day on record for Columbia, SC, yet dedicated fans came out in force, and refused to give up their seats during intermission. We had an incredible concert and made some great new friends as well! Plus, I learned that you CAN FRY AN EGG on a microphone head and sing at the same time!

www.villageatsandhill.com

Village at Sandhill
481-2 Town Center Place
Columbia, SC 29229
803-419-0235]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#26 Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Preview my new book... http://anjie.info/news.html#25
Twos
written and illustr...
By
Make a photo book with Blurb
Book Preview
]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#25 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Endorsement ~ Taylorsville Apple Festival http://anjie.info/news.html#24 Anjie and her band recently performed for us, and with over two hundred vendors and three stages, Anjie stood out on the main stage. She drew a huge crowd, and the crowd loved her! She is a professional in the truest sense of the word. If anyone is lucky enough to have her performing in their area, don’t hesitate to go hear her!!

Carol Bebber Crowgey
Entertainment Director
Taylorsville Apple Festival]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#24 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Fan Mail http://anjie.info/news.html#23


Dave Walker,
Statesville, NC]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#23 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Feeling unloved? http://anjie.info/news.html#22
Dear Lord,

My desire is to be rooted and grounded in Your love (Eph. 3:17) and to really know on a deep level that You love me unconditionally. Your Word says that there is no fear in love and that Your love for me will cast out all my fears (I John 4:18). Lord, I turn away from my fear. I want to be closer to You and know deep inside that I am Your child, and that I do not have to earn Your love. I receive by faith Your perfect love for me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#22 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Are you ready for your big test? http://anjie.info/news.html#21


Romans 1 teaches us that God uses occurrences in our natural lives to mirror spiritual truths to us. This week I have been helping my own children and the students in my classroom to take the tests required by “No Child Left Behind.” Teachers will tell you that there is an entire set of skills that children can learn to make them into great “test-takers.” As people of God, we can learn these same skills so that when we are tested by life, we can make an “A” and get a promotion from God! I want to share some spiritual “test taking tips” I gleaned from this experience at school. Whether or not you agree with principles or outcomes of No Child Left Behind, I think you will see the spiritual parallels.



Spiritual Test-taking Tips



1. Silence during testing.

During crucial situations of testing, eliminate all distractions so that you can focus. Intentionally create more moments of quiet. Change your physical location if you are in a noisy environment. Be with the Lord. Meditate on the Word of God and His goodness. Turn off the radio or the TV. Shut yourself in the bathroom alone for a few minutes, or just go for a drive. Consider your location. Is their a better temporary location for passing through this test? The world won’t end if the phone calls and emails aren’t returned for a few days.

When in a season of testing, it is wise to literally and/or emotionally detach from people and situations that are disorienting or distracting. Some people will tempt you to “cheat” or take a dangerous short cut on your test. Remember, there are “helpful” people all around you willing to share their answers, but if you use their answers instead of your own, the test results are compromised. It is no longer a true reflection of what you have learned, and you will need to take the test again.

Recently I took an important exam, and I decided to bring some earplugs “just in case.” They came in handy because there was a lot of noise and conversation going on in the testing area. I would not have been able to concentrate without them. Sometimes, we need to spiritually plug our ears to protect ourselves from hearing “too much” of the wrong things, or just things that are harmless but not helpful.



2. Get rid of your test anxiety.

Research has proven that test anxiety can hinder a person from recalling the information that they know and being successful. I think I know the character of my God well enough to know that if He has given you a test, He, as your Teacher, has sufficiently prepared you for it. Ask the Lord to center you in His peace, in the eye of the storm. Pray, and don’t be anxious about anything (ref). As my friend once said, “If you are going to pray don’t worry, and if you are going to worry, don’t pray.” Just do your best, knowing that it is enough for your God.

Remember God’s tests are not meant to be declarations of success or failure. Instead they are spiritual tools He uses to acknowledge your growth, highlight areas where future growth is needed, and prepare you for promotion. Where we are weak and inadequate, He comes to us with the power of grace. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” The Lord is found in weakness and inadequacy; He meets us in the test and gives us His wisdom when we ask (James 1).



3. Take small breaks during the test.

When in a season of emotional and spiritual testing, eat well, get fresh air and exercise when you have small breaks in the testing. Under immense pressure, remember that you are a human being. When our flesh is weak, our spirit soon weakens as well. Remember to relax, breathe deeply, exhale and have some fun whenever possible. You would be interested to know that the Bible’s Hebrew word “Ruach,” which means “Spirit,” also means “exhale.” Remember that your physical body is the house, or vehicle, for your spirit; it can’t go beyond the oxygen, food and drink with which it is supplied.

Married folks, don’t neglect having sex, particularly during times of stressful testing. It refreshes your spirit, your soul and your bond of unity. It’s a great and necessary form of warfare to protect and build up your home.



4. Don’t rush, take your time.

Sometimes during our testing, we look around and think to ourselves, what’s wrong with me? Everyone else is already finished with their test! I need to hurry up and get this over with! Comparing ourselves with others is a dangerous trap. Perhaps you are on your third or fourth marriage. Don’t be tempted to look at others around you. Live in the moment. Remember what you’ve learned from the past. Shake off shame. Remember that God has promised good things for your current marriage.

Avoid the trap of comparing yourself to others. Stay focused on the task at hand. Keep moving, even slowly. Did you know that the scientists believe that the Appalachian Mountains were once as tall as the Himalayans? But over time, the Wind eroded them to their current height. Given time, God can change anything. Remember the tortoise and the hare, and don’t despise small progress.

Years ago, I was a counselor for young, unwed pregnant teens. I repeatedly saw the pressure and urgency they felt. They were convinced that they were in a crisis and must make an immediate decision. Based on time pressure, many of these young girls chose to have an abortion. In reality, they each had plenty of time to think and plan for their future, nine months to be exact. Beware that the enemy will try to use time pressure or a “feeling” of crisis or impending doom to cause you to make wrong choices.



5. Relax; you can always do a “retake.”

Studies have shown that in cases where children fail their achievement test the first time, the majority of them will pass the test when they retake it weeks later. Sometimes the best way to pass a test is to take it once and fail, and, using what you learned from the first time, take it again. God is not like the wicked teacher with the wart on her nose who would just love to make you repeat a grade. Your Teacher is kind and gracious; He grades on a Grace-Curve and is willing to schedule a retake if you fail the first try. Between now and the retake, He will be “reviewing” what you need to be more successful the next time. Sometimes we just need a little more “re-view” -- to “view” ourselves once again in the light of His truth.



6. Listen to your Teacher, and follow His instructions

Remember, you have the best Teacher in the universe. He knows the answer to every question, and He is completely willing to share all of His wisdom and experience with you (James 1). He doesn’t mind repeating Himself when you don’t understand. He is wise, and you can never exhaust His patience or kindness as long as you are teachable. “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things”¦”





7. When taking the test, highlight the main ideas.

Today’s students are given highlighters to aid them in their test taking. They use the highlighter to mark main ideas as they read passages so they can quickly locate the answers they need for answering test questions later. What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you in this season? A song? A word? A scripture? A relational connection? Highlight the main ideas, and forget about unnecessary details that would bog you down and steal your vision. What is your enemy trying to highlight? What unimportant things in your life have somehow been given emphasis they don’t deserve? Think about what is really most important to you and to your King, and make room for it.



8. It’s an open Book test! Use the Textbook to find the answers.

How silly and pointless would it be for the teacher to give you an open book test if you did not ever open the book and use it? Your Teacher has very carefully constructed your test to come straight from the Book. The answer IS in there. Keep searching and you will find it. God is not cruel, and He does not give trick questions. When you are being tested, get the Book off the shelf and get busy reading!





9. Watch out for the plausible distracters!

Testmakers go to great lengths to create the “wrong choices” for a particular test question. They make them so similar to the right choice that they are called “plausible distracters.” When you are being tested, be aware that your enemy may use well-intentioned people with answers that seem very plausible. He will go to great lengths to get you to choose an answer that is very close to the Truth, but yet so wrong.





10. Think.

God gave you a brain for a reason. (Doesn’t that sound like something your mother would say?) Sometimes as spiritual people, we can get “religious” (in a weird way) and believe that it is “unspiritual” to use common sense and thinking strategies. But if we get really honest, we might admit that we spend way too much time reacting to life and not enough time thinking about why we are doing what we are doing. Perhaps “wisdom” is a better spiritual term for “thinking.”

When two mothers came to Solomon, each laying claim to one baby, it seems at first look that there were only two solutions to the problem. The baby could only belong to one woman or the other, right? But Solomon, full of God’s wisdom, reached up into the mind of God and retrieved a third answer, an answer that revealed the true intentions of the women’s hearts. When you are tested be aware that there are answers, and there are divine answers. Think. Get the third answer. Anytime we can only see a situation as black and white, right or wrong, answer A or answer B, we should proceed with caution. Wait for the third answer.





11. When you’re stumped, pray hard, and then make a good guess.

Sometimes children feel overwhelmed during a test, and just bubble in the answers in the shape of a Christmas tree! Teachers coach kids not to give up and randomly mark answers. They teach students to eliminate the choices that they absolutely know are wrong and then choose one from those that are left. This increases the probability of getting the answer right. As students of the Lord, let’s remember this principle. When all else fails and time is running out, eliminate the choices that are wrong (morally and scripturally). Then pray and “fill in the circle” with your best common sense. Remember, it reflects very poorly on your Teacher if you give up and make a Christmas tree of your answer sheet.



12. Remember what you’ve learned.

As a teacher I find that most children and teachers do a lot of worrying about tests, but they generally do much better on the test than they expected. Have faith that God has adequately prepared you for what you are facing. “There is no temptation common to man”¦” Remember, you have an Exceptional Teacher who knows exactly how to prepare you for the test.



Conclusion: No Child Left Behind

I am not necessarily a fan of “No Child Left Behind,” but I do feel that its passage into law made a prophetic statement in the heavenlies over our nation’s children. “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND!” I feel that this is a statement on the heart of God, and I can back that up with scripture. Jesus said it would be better for us to drown in the depths of the sea than to cause one of His kids to fall. He also said that, when given a choice, He would leave the masses to go after a single soul that had gone astray. Remember that God cares about you and anyone else in your life that is going through extreme testing. He says, “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND!” Receive this as a prophetic declaration over your life and those you love who are being tested right now.

Leaders, get ready to promote those who are shown worthy. When possible, give them real, tangible and visible promotion that encourages them to stay in the race for Christ. Also, be prepared to “retain” those who need more time to master needed truths of the Kingdom. The time for “false promotions” that hinder, not help children, is over. Leaders, remember your responsibility to be unbiased and objective when weighing the “scores” of those in your care. I believe we will be held accountable for any persons that we hold back in this season based on our own hurts, prejudices, or control. Also, be aware that some may not have completely mastered all the concepts required, but they have shown the fortitude, perseverance and given their very personal best. Don’t pass these up for promotion.



Finally, don’t forget to celebrate when you pass the test! If this teaching has encouraged you or you no someone who is being seriously tested that would benefit from this word, please pass it along. I would love to hear good news from you about how you have passed your test!]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#21 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News How to get more of the good behaviors you want from your students http://anjie.info/news.html#20
Children, and indeed, people in general, tend to either repeat or extinguish behaviors based on the positive or negative reinforcement they receive for said behaviors. The following essay defines and summarizes strategies of reinforcement for appropriate behaviors in individuals and student groups. These techniques are practical and applicable for many situations an elementary teacher may encounter.

Techniques for Reinforcing an Individual Student’s Appropriate Behavior

1. Affirming non-verbals.

Non-verbals may be the most persuasive form of communication available, even more powerful than words. A teacher’s first resource for affirming a student’s constructive behavior is a variety of small silent gestures such as smiles, affirmative nods, a thumbs-up sign from across the room, or a gentle pat on the shoulder. All of these non-verbals communicate, “You are on track. Keep up the good work!”

2. Verbal praise.

Oral praise is the second technique most important to a teacher when affirming right behavior in an individual student. Effective praise has three traits: it is specific, well timed, and sincere (Evertson & Worsham, 2006).

In order to be effective in reinforcing good behaviors, praise needs to be specific. For example, if Jose typically does not complete his homework, when he does finish his entire assignment, the phrase, “Good, Jose. You completed your entire assignment,” is more effective than “Good job on your homework, Jose.” Giving specific praise as feedback to good behaviors empowers a child to believe that he has self-control over his own behaviors, and that good grades don’t just “happen.”

Effective praise is also well timed. Praise is most effective when given in the midst of or immediately after a child is “caught” in good behavior. Children have little concept of delayed gratification and operate in the concreteness of the here and now. Therefore, praise should be swiftly delivered.

Sincerity is a third hallmark of effective praise. Teachers who are “praise robots,” dispensing the same phrases over and over, find their praise becomes meaningless to the child at best, and patronizing at worst (Laureate, 2006). To truly reinforce good behaviors, a student must feel that the comment has come from the teacher’s heart with real sincerity.

3. Good notes and good phone calls home. Teachers can direct the strategies of sincere, well-timed and specific praise into positive notes and phone calls home for a well-behaved student. For small and large victories in academic and social behaviors, the acknowledgment of one’s caregivers can be satisfying and reinforcing. Elementary school students are still very much invested in the approval of their parents; this makes good notes and phone calls home effective. The notes need not be lengthy or formal, nor the phone calls. Also, certificates or personal emails can be easy and effective communicators to parents in lieu of a hand-written note.

4. Random special privileges.

A fourth technique that a teacher may use to reinforce a student’s positive academic or social behavior is to give the child a special surprise privilege. For instance, the teacher’s entering a child’s art into a regional or national art contest can positively reinforce a child struggling in academics but excelling in artistic gifting. Or a child who loves recess that is typically resistant to doing individual schoolwork can be rewarded with a surprise of extra recess time when she completes an assignment without goading.

5. Lunch with the teacher.

An individual student may also be reinforced for many different kinds of appropriate behaviors by being given the privilege of having a private lunch with the teacher. Many times children with on-going behavior problems begin to give up on changing their own behaviors under the barrage of negative feedback at school and at home. Teachers should be especially vigilant to watch for any small (or large) positive behaviors in a troubled child to be reinforced (Evertson & Worsham, 2006).

Techniques for Reinforcing a Student Group’s Appropriate Behavior

1. The classic “marble jar” strategy. A beloved strategy used at home for motivating my own children is the “marble jar” technique. I award any number of marbles for any behavior I want to reinforce, and when the jar is full, my children are rewarded with a night at the movies with popcorn and candy. I adopted this strategy from the many teachers my children have had who use this technique. The concept is effective because classes can be rewarded collectively for appropriate behaviors, and the tangible sight and sound of marbles dropping into the jar give the children a sense of achieving a desired goal. This strategy is very flexible, since marbles can be awarded for attentiveness, attendance, and kindness to a classmate or any particular behavior that the teacher desires to reinforce. The teacher may determine the prize to be awarded to the class when the jar is full, or she may allow the students to vote upon a reward they all agree upon. Whatever the decided reinforcement, it should be determined in advance of beginning to fill the jar, and the reward delivered as soon as possible after the jar is full.

2. “Beat the Teacher” game.

This game is simple to use, reinforcing students’ raising their hands to be called upon and extinguishing calling out without acknowledgment. In the game students receive a point each time someone appropriately raises his or her hand and waits to be acknowledged by the teacher before speaking. The teacher, however, receives a point any time a student calls out without raising his or her hand. The game initiates a positive peer pressure on individuals to choose appropriate behavior. A tangible reward for the entire student group may be given if they “beat the teacher,” or the reward may be simply the intrinsic satisfaction of “beating the teacher” (Laureate Education, 2006).

3. No homework night.

On any given day, when the entire class has no infractions of the rules, the teacher may declare a “no homework night” for reinforcement. The teacher can alter this method in many ways to meet the specific motivational needs of the class. For instance, “no homework night” can be used as a reward for everyone bringing report cards back signed on time, or any other behavior important to the teacher.


4. Extra recess or free time.

Extra playtime, even as few as five minutes, is an effective reinforcement of positive classroom behaviors. Rarely would a child be found who would not be excited about extra free time.

In conclusion, positive reinforcements for appropriate academic and social behaviors are limited only to the imagination of the teacher and students. New teachers will also find veteran teachers a rich resource for proven techniques to reinforce good behaviors. Keeping things positive and affirmative serve to extinguish negative behaviors and multiply positive ones. Best wishes as you implement positive reinforcement strategies in your classroom.

Source References:

Evertson, C. M., Emmer, E. T., & Worsham, M. E. (2006).
Classroom management for elementary teachers. Boston: Pearson.

Laureate Education, Inc., Classroom Management for New Teachers.
(2006). "Beat the Teacher Game".]]> http://anjie.info/news.html#20 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News Think about it... http://anjie.info/news.html#19 http://anjie.info/news.html#19 Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 anjiecarpenter.com - Anjie Carpenter - News