physical therapy and rehabilitation September 2018
3600 Miller Road, Flint, MI 48503 • 810.620.8042 • horizonptflint.com
WHAT MAKES A GREAT EDUCATOR? A Teacher and a Principal
Summer is officially over and all the kids are back in school. My oldest son won’t be starting preschool until next year, but I still find myself thinking about the back-to-school season, even though I haven’t set foot in a classroommyself in some time. So much of our young lives are spent in school under the guidance of teachers. Is it any wonder we still think about our favorite educators even as adults? The best teacher I ever had was my fifth grade teacher at Coolidge Elementary School. Mr. Napoleon Demps was a stern man with a box haircut, but he was also funny and well-liked. Everyone loved being in his class. Mr. Demps was one of those rare, genuine teachers who was able to really connect to his students and make us feel excited and welcome when we came to class. “Great teachers help their students cultivate a desire to accomplish, and that’s something that will help a lot in life.” Coolidge Elementary was also where I knew another great educator: the principal, James Bracey. He was stern and no- nonsense, as any good principal should be, but he was always very complimentary to his students. I remember howMr. Bracey would acknowledge me in the halls and always make a point to encourage his students to work hard. As a kid, you really believed he wanted you to do well and reach the next level.
My fifth grade teacher, Mr. Demps
Suddenly, you’re working on assignments not to avoid getting in trouble, but because you want to work. Great teachers help their students cultivate a desire to accomplish, and that’s something that will help a lot in life. As a physical therapist, I’m often trying to educate and motivate my own patients. I know it can be challenging to follow through on treatment, especially when you feel physically exhausted and a little hopeless. It’s my job to keep my patients motivated by teaching themwhy they are having problems in the first place and by identifying what their goals are. For example, I work with people who really want to be able to pick up their grandkids again. First, they need to realize their grandkid weighs at least 30 pounds, so they have to get to the point where they are strong enough to lift a 30-pound weight. That’s not easy, but when patients remember their goal of reconnecting with family, it sparks their own fire to accomplish more and work hard to get the job done. As we get back into the school year, I wish all the students and teachers the best of luck. Students, I hope you have a great teacher this year and that you learn something you’ll value for the rest of your life. And teachers, good luck out there. May you have the energy to keep motivating students until summer vacation comes again.
I think what makes great teachers stand out and find a place in their students’ hearts for years to come is their ability to motivate. Some teachers walk into a classroom, and it’s all about making sure the work they assign gets done and sending students about their business. The great teachers are able to spark a fire in you.
-Dr. Jerome Adams
My principal, Mr. Bracey
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Involved But Not Overbearing
Parent-Teacher Etiquette to Support Your Child’s Development
Helicopter parents are the bane of every teacher’s existence. With the return of back-to-school season, it’s vital to find a happy medium between the tiger momwho bares her teeth at the smallest setback in her child’s schooling and the laissez-faire parent who is totally disengaged from their kid’s education. Here are a few tips to keep you involved in your child’s educational development while fostering relationships with their teachers in a way that won’t drive all of you up the wall. 1. Be a little empathetic. Teachers are some of the hardest-working people in the world, wrangling the disparate needs of around 25 children day in and day out while attempting to get them to actually learn something. It’s a high-stress, low-paying job. In the midst of grading 300 research papers written by 12-year-olds, the last thing they need is the added pressure of concerned parents bearing down on them. If you can approach a teacher from a position of understanding and be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, you’ll be off to a good start. 2. Showup and keep an openmind. Ask any teacher in the country, and they’ll undoubtedly tell you that one of the best predictors of a child’s success is whether or not their parents make an appearance
at parent-teacher conferences. Your engagement should go beyond that. Use the teacher’s preferred method of communication to stay in semi-regular contact with them— always ensuring that you keep an open mind about any praise, suggestions, or concerns they have about your child. 3. Teach your child to take responsibility . Aside from leaving your kid completely to their own devices, one of the worst things you can do is swoop in to solve their problems for them at the slightest hint of adversity. Maybe that D your kid got on their algebra test really was their fault. It’s important to acknowledge your child’s missteps, but you should also try to equip themwith the tools necessary to advocate for themselves. Learning to articulate what’s going wrong or what they need from their teacher will help them to develop positive and effective communication skills. The key is to work together with your child’s teacher without being overbearing. Don’t come in with guns blazing at the first sign of an educational slip. Think of your kid’s schooling as a collaborative effort —maybe one in which you’re a little less involved than the teacher — and you’ll be giving your child the best chance of success.
A Pain-Free Tomorrow OUR PAT I ENTS SAY I T BEST
–Brenden M. “Dr. Adams and my physical therapist assistant, Tim Sexton, were very helpful and knowledgeable when it came to bringing strength back to my leg after foot surgery. All of the staff were very friendly and pleasant to work with. In about two months, I was back to 95 percent functionality in my leg, so I would definitely recommend going here!”
“This is the best physical therapy place I have ever been to. I love that they make you feel like family.”
–Joseph C.
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AT RISKOF A FALL?
Exercises to Help You Stay on Your Feet
doesn’t require repetitive hard impact like running does, swimming is easier on your joints, making it a great workout for those who suffer from arthritis.
Anyone can fall and hurt themselves, but fall-related injuries are far more common for seniors who struggle with chronic disease. Around 30 percent of people over the age of 65 will suffer from
a fall this year! Fortunately, there are plenty of activities you can try to help avoid a fall and maintain your independence. Sign Up for Tai Chi Tai chi, a martial art created by Taoist monks in the 12th century, emphasizes slowmovements and precise poses, which helps build control over your body. A study published in the journal CLINICS reported that seniors who enrolled in tai chi classes scored higher on balance tests after just two weeks of practice!
TryWeightlifting Don’t worry — you don’t have to train like Arnold Schwarzenegger did to be Mr. Universe in order to
experience the benefits of weightlifting. Strength training with light weights and high repetition improves your core strength, which is key to keeping your balance. These activities can help you maintain your balance throughout your life, but if disease, gait impairments, or medical conditions threaten your ability to stand or walk with confidence, get professional help right away. The solution may be as simple as a custom orthotic device to correct your posture, or you may need a personalized treatment plan with your physical therapist. Call 810-620-8042 and have the team at Horizon PT evaluate your situation to help you determine the best way to regain your balance so you can stay on your feet and keep moving.
Enjoy a Swim The summer heat may be behind us, but there are still plenty of reasons to make time for a good swim. Swimming provides a true full-body workout and helps build bone density. And because it
Have a Laugh
Inside-Out Grilled Ham and Cheese Ingredients
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8 slices of bread (Pullman works best) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
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8 ounces ham, thinly sliced 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, sliced 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup apricot preserves
Directions
1. Butter each slice of bread on the outsides and sprinkle with Parmesan. 2. Layer ham and cheese evenly on top of 4 slices of bread. 3. Spread apricot preserves and mustard across the other 4 slices. Press sandwiches together. 4. In a cast iron skillet or large sauté pan over mediumheat, grill sandwiches until golden, about 3 minutes per side. 5. Cut in half and serve.
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Inspired by Food &Wine magazine
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3600 Miller Road Flint, MI 48503
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THIS ISSUE Inside
The Value of Motivation
The 3 Keys to Parent-Teacher Etiquette
Our Patients Say It Best
Fun Activities to Help You Stay Independent
Inside-Out Grilled Ham and Cheese
Why Labor Day is Indebted to the Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike and the Origin of Labor Day
acknowledged the strike was happening, and he refused to meet with the organizers. The tension increased when Eugene Debs, the president of the American Railway Union, organized a boycott of all trains that included Pullman cars. The strike continued to escalate until workers and Pullman community members managed to stop the trains from running. Eventually, President Grover Cleveland sent in soldiers to break up the strike. Violence ensued, with soldiers making a great effort to quell the strike at its core. By the time the violence ended, 30 people had lost their lives and an estimated $80 million in damages had been caused throughout the town. A fewmonths later, President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday. Many experts believe that this act was an effort to build rapport among his pro-labor constituents after handling the incident so poorly. This month, as you fire up the barbecue and enjoy your day off, take a moment to remember the workers who fought for labor rights in our country.
Today, Labor Day mostly means a day off and the closure of public pools. But when it was first created, it was a president’s desperate attempt to curb the tension after one of the most violent strike breakups in American history. In the late 19th century, the workers of the Pullman Company, which manufactured luxury train cars, all lived in a company- owned town. George Pullman, the owner, lived in a mansion overlooking houses, apartments, and crammed-together barracks, all of which were rented by the thousands of workers needed for the operation. For some time, the town operated without a hitch, providing decent wages for the workers while netting the higher- ups millions of dollars. But after the economic depression of the 1890s brought the country to its knees, everything changed. George Pullman slashed his workers’ wages by nearly 30 percent, but he neglected to adjust the rent on the company-owned buildings in turn. As a result, life became untenable in the town, with workers struggling to maintain the barest standards of living for themselves and their families. In response, the workers began a strike on May 11, 1894. As the event ramped up, it gained the support of the powerful American Railway Union (ARU). But Pullman, stubborn as he was, barely
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