The way you can measure a society's soul is by the way that it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela

Issue No. 45 - 13th September 2007

Welcome to Kidz Newz especially to all new subscribers.  Kidz Newz is a regular newsletter with information and teaching tips for anyone involved with young children.  You are receiving this because you have attended one of my workshops, purchased a book, or you have requested to be on the mailing list.  Thank you.  Please forward this to anyone you feel it may be of interest to.

Feedback is welcome.

New Book

The much anticipated second book in the Kidz-Fiz-Biz series has finally arrived!  It is called Kidz-Fiz-Biz MULTICULTURAL.  Subtitle is 'learning about other cultures through drama, dance and song'.  All the rhymes, fingerplays and music are in foreign languages with translation into English.  It contains loads of activities and is fully illustrated.  The music is fantastic and I'm sure teachers and children alike will find it great fun. 

For details of this and other products, please go to www.kidzfizbiz.com.

Kaizen explains the Margin of Greatness!                

In Japan, the word for constant and never-ending improvement is kaizen.

Not only is this an operating philosophy for modern Japanese businesses, it is also the age-old philosophy of warriors, too, and it's become the personal mantra of millions of successful people.

Achievers, whether in business, sports, or the arts, are committed to continual improvement.

If you want to be more successful, you need to learn to ask yourself, "How can I make this better? How can I do it more efficiently? How can I do this more profitably? How can we do this with greater love?"

Why is KAIZEN considered the key to the MARGIN OF GREATNESS?

In the sport of professional baseball most respectable players bat an average of .250, or 1 hit for every 4 times they come to bat.

If a .250 batter is also a good fielder, he can expect to do well in the majors.

But anyone who hits .300, or 3 hits for every 10 times he comes to bat, is considered a star. By the end of a season, out of the thousands of players in the leagues, only about a dozen players will have achieved a .300 average.

These hitters are honoured as the greatest players, receive the multimillion-dollar player contracts, and land the lucrative commercial endorsements.

But consider this: The difference between the truly great ones and the average players is only 1 hit out of 20!

A player who bats .250 gets 5 hits in every 20 times at bat, but a .300 hitter gets 6 hits out of those same 20 times at bat.

Isn't that amazing? In the world of professional baseball, the margin of greatness is only 1 more hit out of 20!

It takes only a little extra bit of performance to go from good to great.
 

The above article comes from Wayne Mansfield's newsletter The Maverick Spirit of 29 June 2007.  (www.themaverickspirit.biz)   I have included it here as I believe it is very appropriate for anyone involved with young children.  You are, after all, influencing tomorrow's world leaders.  Your greatness is reflected in the children you teach.

A little boy was overheard praying:
"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."

After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."

Some comments from ASME  2007 - What was the most useful thing you learned today? -

 'I loved the ribbon work and integrating phys ed and music.'                                                  'The use of streamers.'                                                                                                       'The variety of activities.  I also liked the ribbons and learning different songs and language.'         'The ribbon section.'                                                                                                             'The movement based activities and sequential activities.'                                                'Coordination movement.'                                                                                                 'Hand and body percussion.'                                                                                                'How to explore slow music.'                                                                                                'Story movement to music.'                                                                                                    'Scarves have many uses.'                                                                                               'Tricks with sticks.'                                                                                                             'The songs/actions for the multicultural music and the ribbon activities.'