1. Radians School
of Math, Science, and Technology
Issue 4, September, 2013
How to Educate Socially and
Emotionally Stable Children
By Dr. Raquel Castrodad, Ed.D.
Academic Director
Parents need to be “down-to-earth” in order to educate emotionally
stable children when facing a violent, intolerant, and aggressive
society.; one in which relativism runs rampant; where there is a lack of
empathy and compassion, and which promotes unhealthy values which
contradicts a healthy lifestyle.
that have ceased to be established for the well-being of our children.
Our children need to be children, play with their companions,
solve their own “problems”, and face their own youthful
challenges. They need parents to guide them and to be the first to
demonstrate respect for themselves and other adults.
I often hear questions from parents who, worried about this situation, Children need parents who will impose boundaries for their family
want to develop respectful and responsible citizens: How can I interactions, and who understand that the home is not a democracy;
discipline my children without affecting their self-esteem?
there are hierarchies and in that hierarchy the parents are above the
children. This is an important point for the social development of
Simple! If we closely observe, we can see that one thing leads to
children and their relations in school and the community.
another. They are not opposites. Discipline and self-esteem go hand
in hand! Limits give security.
A child who does not respect adults does not pay attention.
Effective discipline, without the sense of guilt that parents often feel, is
the extraordinary formula that helps youngsters become self-confident
and develop a healthy self-esteem. Children, by their nature, tend to
think they are the center of everything, that the world revolves around
them. This is why it is imperative that parents clearly see their children
as they truly are in order to maintain the proper balance in the
relationship. Parents must not allow them to control the relationship.
They must fulfill their obligations.
A child who does not pay attention does not follow instructions.
A child who does not follow instructions does NOT learn.
So, parents who desire their children to be excellent students should
teach them respect towards adults, beginning with their mother and
father. Definitely children need lots and lots of love. Thus, it is essential
that they receive sincere love AND it is also crucial that they be duly
disciplined when necessary.
Parents cannot effectively discipline their children if they have lost their The concept of self-esteem has been distorted by the willingness to
“center of gravity”. How is this lost? By accepting certain fads that are give the child everything he/she desires in order to avoid a “tantrum.”
being implemented so that children do not lose their “self-esteem”.
This is like someone who sees the trees, but misses the forest.
For example:
The more we permit our children to live experiences and to obtain
achievements, by their own effort, (including that of letting them make
mistakes), the more we will help them construct their self-esteem and
their moral intelligence. Developing moral intelligence is a major
determining factor in the formation of a respectful citizen, and adds
value to the society of which he/she will belong.
For children to feel safe, parents assume full responsibility in fulfilling all
of their children’s requests, giving them what these ask for, and not
what they really need. This turns parents into their children's servants.
Parents assume responsibility for their child’s homework; carry their
book bags, control communication and relationships with peers and
teachers.
Violence, as well as self-control, is learned!
The modern social tendency defines good parenting as being involved
in everything. The working mother or father develops a certain feeling of
“guilt” because they feel that they are not present to adequately attend
the child, which leads to having the parent resolve all problems faced
by the child in order to avoid situations that might affect his/her selfesteem.
The earlier we begin to cultivate the moral capacity of children in a
conscious and planned manner, greater will be the successes in the
development of our society’s future leaders. In this way we would be
giving the foundation necessary for the formation of their character and
that they may grow thinking, believing, and acting morally.
A reality of our times is that adults are excessively involved in the
Dr. R. Castrodad is a certified Master Facilitator for the Virtues Project
affairs of their children, and children excessively involved in the
and has worked tirelessly to promote the integration of virtues into the
affairs of adults! Adults are not children and, above all, children are
curriculum of schools all over the island.
not adults! This is the great difference between our society and the
famous days of our grandparents.
The social factors of the past that nourished the moral character of our
youth have disintegrated due to the lack of structure and boundaries

2. History Class Students work on Dioramas
A
s part of their work in Social Studies, 6th grade students from
Prof. Xiomara Roman’s History class worked to develop a
diorama. Students collaborated in groups to plan,
create, and build a geographic scene that demonstrated their
understanding of habitat and geography. When students learn
the topic and are allowed the freedom to use this knowledge to create,
the student internalizes the concept in a deeper manner. At Radians
School, we believe that students should use their knowledge to create.
What is sad to note is that the pervasive educational tradition has
worked to eliminate the creative process so necessary for our young
people to grow and develop properly. As educators, it is our
responsibility to allow the student the freedom and the opportunity to
express this creativity by providing them with the necessary
environment that fosters this type of thinking. Among the healthy
benefits of this philosophy of education is that the student learns to
love the educational process of which he is an active participant. Our
education professionals understand this point and the beneficiary of this
is the entire school community.
How Non-Traditional Education helps
Students Learn About the Library and Dictionaries
T
he dictionary is an important tool in any classroom. It is
an vital book that is mostly forgotten. That is why the
third grades (both Ms. Rios and Ms. Perez’s groups) are
arduously working with this wonderful tool. In complete
alignment with the course curriculm for this level, one of the
important objectives is for the student not only to remember
that the dictionary serves as an instrument to find meanings of
words we may not know, but also it is an excellent way to
enrich our student’s vocabulary. This week the students will be
involved in various activities which are all connected with the use
of the dictionary.
First, students will visit the library where they will have a
short conference by the school librarían, Prof. M.C. Alvarez
about the different types of dictionaries and how these are used.
Students will learn to classify words and put them in
alphabetical order. By means of fun activities and games, Prof.
Soqui Perez will help them work directly with dictionaries, as
students learn about guide words and meanings. To conclude we
will have a Trivia Challenge activity where students from both
third grade groups can socialize and compete against each other
in a healthy and safe competition where they apply what they
have learned in class.

3. High School NHS members serve the community
T
he National Honor Society,
High School Zafiro Chapter
dedicated the month of
August to the children. This being
the case, this past Friday, August
30th, 2013, the members of the
NHS shared several activities with
our pre-school students focused on
developing virtues, especially the
virtues of empathy, friendship,
enthusiasm, courtesy, respect, and responsbility.
Crafts, dramas, games , and songs were some of the
activities carried out to help our young students
understand the concepts.
By serving
others, NHS members come to
understand that they can make a difference in the
lives of others, and enrich their own lives in the
process. GREAT WORK NHS Zafiro Chapter!
High School Spanish Literature
Students Undertake Debate Activity
The past few days, the 11th grade has been undertaking a
series of oral reports with the purpose of sharing
information, debating diverse points of views and, in this
manner, developing their critical thinking skills while
applying the perspective of ethics.
Taking as a starting point the three fundamental themes in the
novel: “El Sueño de América” by Esmeralda Santiago: 1)Domestic
Violence, 2)Migration, and 3)the Marines in Vieques. The students then carried out the following activities:
Symposium on domestic violence
Panel discussion on how and why the U.S. Marines arrive
at Vieques; the realities and the consequences
 Debate surrounding the issue of migration


The importance of analysis and critical thinking skills in these
types of activities underscore a crucial
part of the
institution’s mission: to help develop integral human beings. It
was an extremely productive educational experience where
one could evidence not only the academic excellence of our
students, but their evident character development as well.

4. Radians School students enjoying
their co-curricular activities
Photo at right. Bow and Arrow
group at their first meeting. Mr.
DelValle’s students are learning the
importance of safety and basic archery
skills before stepping out to practice
this versatile sport.
Photo above, Ms. Mercado’s crocheting
activity commences as students learn how
to do their first knitting project.
Above and at right, Ms. Colón’s Digital
Animation activity has students engaged in
the process of learning and creating.
Students enjoy this process immensely.
Pictured above are the members of the Scrapbooking Activity headed by our own dynamic, Ms. Román. Students enjoy themselves outside as they motivate themselves and get their
creative juices flowing to start working on their scrapbooking projects.
Right Photo
Students run
in their Track
and Field
course as their
selected cocurricular
activity!
A fun way to
stay in shape
and “a healthy
body leads to
healthy mind!”
Radians School
of Math, Science, and Technology
Carr 735 Km 0.4
Cayey, Puerto Rico 00736
(787) 738-4822
www.radiansschool.org
At left, Parents share
with each other while
waiting for their
children, who are
participating in the co
-curricular activities
offered at Radians
School. Our caring
community creates
bonds of friendship.
Right Photo,
Track and Field
girls pose with
their coach while
the guys are doing
laps in
preparation for
their practice
session!
Happy students
enjoying the
educational
process!
The first and only school in
Puerto Rico recognized as a
“National School of Character”
The Intelligent Choice for
YOUR child’s Future Success!