Thought for the Day

"Do not train youth to learning through force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their mind so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each."
                                                                                                            Plato

Sometimes its really hard to know what kids are thinking, what they care about, what they love to do, and even harder to get them to talk about it.  But, piggybacking on Plato's thought, I think there are ways to stimulate conversation in order to "discover ... the peculiar bent of the genius of each." All it takes is five or ten minutes - but as often as possible.

Start everyday, or every dinner, or every mentoring session with a quote. Write it on a board, read it, send it as a text message, say it out loud. Invite kids to share thoughts and quotations that are meaningful to them.

Sharing a thought for the day is a great way to stimulate conversation, bring new and different ideas to the classroom or table, introduce thinkers and their ideas and most of all, open a door that invites young thinkers to express their ideas.

TIP:
Find  (and invite kids to find) quotes from people of different cultures and time.

Here's a fun site to get you started

Post your great conversation inspiring quotes to the comment box below.