A New Year's Message From Carmen McGuinness

Carmen McGuinness 2017December 31, 2016

Dear Friends,

It's official! We have all lived much longer than we imagined. I recall a New Year's Eve, sitting by the fire in Tuscany with my father. I was twelve-years-young. He spoke of how I would see the millennium change. I laughed and said no one would be alive by then. I was a Cold War baby... kinda dark sometimes. But, doing the math, I reckoned I would make it to about 2010. And here we are!... and surprise, surprise... I'm still young. Why?... when I was in my late thirties I started having babies... again. I attribute my youthfulness to their needs. This time my babies were imported from China. With the arrival of the first import I began to contemplate my older two made-in-the-USA kiddos... what had gone well and what could use improvement. My improvement of course. Because I raised them. In fact, there was no one else to praise or blame, as I'd raised them alone.

Today, on the brink of the seventeenth anniversary of the millennia, I ponder what has gone right this time around. This morning, as we planned an evening of ice-skating at the park, my fifteen-year-old Lily (the afore mentioned first import) confided in me that she doesn't like to see her little sister stay at Dad's house when she's not there. At first my inner psychoanalyst popped out and said, "Oh it's okay, you know your daddy loves you too!" But her response woke my inner teacher. "No Mom, I'm not jealous. I'm worried." You see, Rose (my second Chinese flower) has autism. And as it turns out, her sister Lily was worried for her at Dad's house without her big sister to look out for her. Not because of Dad! He's an amazing father. But because of an aging relative, who he looks after. Those sensitive readers understand how difficult it was for Lily to confide in me that her beloved relative is not always so patient and understanding as she might be with little Rose. So, Lily and I talked, and talked, and talked some more. We talked about advocacy, and how to keep safe those who are less fortunate than we are. Part of that talk was about how Lily had also advocated for her aging relative, by keeping her safe from making bad choices. After we talked, and I made a difficult phone call to Lily and Rose's father, I sat in awe of my fifteen-year-old. How does one so young learn the art of advocacy?

Advocacy, like most of what we learn, is learned from our parents and teachers. Lily was blessed with parents (who were also her teachers for many years) who advocate for those less fortunate. I suppose that's how Dad ended up with a child with autism and a grumpy, aging relative under the same roof two days a week. So how does a parent or teacher teach advocacy? Like most of what we teach, through modeling. Just the other day Lily stood off to the side, pretending she didn't know me while I called for the store manager after I noticed a woman in an antiquated wheel chair trying to shop alone. The manager's initial reply was, "Well, it's just a chair. You might need help." Of course, I explained the principle of 'self-determination' woven into modern legislation. This is my message today, on the eve of the days that were never to be. We have come a long way since our aging relatives were young. We live in a world blessed with legislation like Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). But we must model the principles of these important documents or our children and students will only be governed by them, but never actually learn and live them.

May the Force be with you ~

Dr. Carmen McGuinness

Phono-Graphix Reading Company

Share this page:

Latest News

Feb 27, 2024

CALLING TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE! Now is your chance to work live with an experienced practitioner to earn your certification! Licensed trainer Michelle Cicotte is starting another
Phono-Graphix Hybrid Certification Course starting March 25th. This course combines state-of-the-art online coursework with online but live, scheduled presentations, Q&A sessions and job-embedded coaching. LEARN TO HELP EVERY STUDENT!

Feb 13, 2024

Let this be your SCIENCE OF READING summer! Get certified in Phono-Graphix, the program built entirely from the science and proven by the science to reach virtually any student.
Sound to Symbol to Meaning Dual Certification Course:
The Odyssey School, Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
June 17, 18, 20, 21, 2024.
Sign up early as this course, offered by very experienced trainers, fills up quickly.

Dec 28, 2023

Welcome, new Moon Hall School (Reigate, UK) teachers! Miss Jess Wheeler is conducting the first Phono-Graphix Certification Course of the New Year for her school's staff, starting January 3rd.

Sep 24, 2023

Welcome, special education teachers in Malaysia! Sarine Tan, reading therapist and licensed Phono-Graphix trainer will conduct a certification course starting in November, with a mix of instruction and job-embedded coaching. This course will meet on Saturdays, to accommodate working adults.

Jul 1, 2023

Announcing the launch of the new Phono-Graphix Store, with more payment options, 27 difference currencies accepted, and reorganized, consolidated products, to help you find just what you need, in the format that works best for you!
Visit the new and improved Phono-Graphix Store

Mar 1, 2023

Please join us in welcoming Amber Wyberanec, Northshore SD Elementary Special Education Teacher on Special Assignment to our team of independently licensed Phono-Graphix trainers. She'll be holding her first certification course this month for NSD staff. Thank you for working to spread Phono-Graphix in your district, Amber!

Feb 24, 2023

Don't miss this one! Licensed trainer Michelle Cicotte is offering another
Phono-Graphix Hybrid Certification Course starting in April. This course combines state-of-the-art learning management technology with the mentorship of an experienced practitioner. Coursework includes self-paced online learning with online, but live, scheduled presentations, Q&A sessions and job-embedded coaching.

Jan 30, 2023

Don't miss this opportunity to train in person this summer with expert trainers Marcia Peterson, M.S., CCC-SLP and Bella Curran, M.S., Reading Specialist!
Sound to Symbol to Meaning Dual Certification Course:
The Odyssey School, Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
June 19-23, 2023.
Sign up early as this course should fill up quickly and the registration deadline is June 9, 2023.

Jan 11, 2023

We are delighted to announce that licensed trainer Michelle Cicotte will be piloting a new format for the Phono-Graphix Certification Course this month! The new Phono-Graphix Hybrid Certification Course combines state-of-the-art learning management technology with the mentorship of an experienced practitioner. Coursework includes self-paced online learning with online, but live, scheduled presentations, Q&A sessions and job-embedded coaching. The best of both worlds!

Nov 17, 2022

We are so pleased to see another step in the return to normalcy: expert trainer, Meg Davis is picking up where she left off in bringing Phono-Graphix to her district. Joining her is long-time practitioner, Jennifer Crain.
Sound to Symbol to Meaning Dual Certification Course:
Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, VA
January 12, 19 and February 2, 2023.

Read All