Currey Ingram Blog

November is recognized as Gratitude Month, a month that is dedicated to giving thanks. Over the last few years, I have learned to value the virtue of gratitude and have encouraged many to develop the daily habit of listing five things for which they are grateful. I recognize that maintaining a positive attitude is easier for some than others, primarily because of one’s genes. Some people might be like Therese J. Borchard who, in the beginning, had to force gratitude into her life by writing only about very simple things for which she was thankful (e.g., cream cheese and bagel). After the birth of her second child, she suffered from severe depression and found it very difficult to identify things for which she was grateful. To read more about her journey, she has written the book, Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes.

A child with a processing disorder often can learn the same things as their grade-level peers. However, the time it takes to dissect, digest, and apply the information fully may be substantially longer than other students. According to the educators at Currey Ingram, many students with learning differences can benefit from the individualized attention available at the Brentwood boarding school, just outside of Nashville.

A low student-teacher ratio, like your child experiences at Currey Ingram, is undoubtedly valuable. However, having low numbers without intentional practices would fail to result in the same benefits. One of the greatest advantages to a lower ratio is the increased supervision and constructive feedback that a child receives, which is a powerful evidence-based practice that results in improved outcomes (Hattie, 2008). 

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a leading researcher in the area of positive psychology, coined the concept of “flow.” Also referred to as being “in the zone,” flow is a pleasant experience in which a person is so focused and engrossed in an activity that they lose track of time. Another characteristic of flow occurs when a person is engaged in a task that is a slight stretch from his or her current skill set, not too easy but not too difficult. When the challenge is too high and skill level is too low, anxiety looms. On the other hand, when skill is low and challenge is high, boredom surfaces.

At the first cross country meet of the school year, I showed up completely unprepared. It was a sweltering 95 degrees, and I had dressed in long pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt and had failed to bring any water or snacks for my children. In addition, we were missing nap time for my youngest, which was already putting us on shaky ground. Thankfully, the cross country venue had thought ahead and had vendors that saved the day. Further, a really great playground entertained and distracted my youngest throughout the event. Unfortunately, I was stuck in my unseasonably warm dress.