Rating: 
Summary: Works With My Students!
Review: Sonny Elliott's communication techniques allow anyone to express their feelings without fear of reprisal. His techniques have allowed my ESL (English as a Second Language) students to communicate verbally, improve their mastery of the language, and share their hopes and fears as immigrants to this country. It has enabled them to relate to one another in what educators call "authentic" language. In order for learning to occur, the subject content should be meaningful to the student's life, thereby "authentic". Elliott's techniques described in his book facilitate the language process, empower the student, and engender a feeling of connectedness to others using the process. Bravo for Sonny Elliott. Parents and educators take note!
Rating: 
Summary: Practical guide for bridging the communication gap with kids
Review: Sonny's interpretation of his own, sometimes tragic experiences, in childhood, are inspiring and validating of the human spirit's intention to make a difference in life. Beyond the story of his life, he creates a practical step by step process for children and parents to communicate with each other with respect and dignity, and to expand their experience of love.
Rating:
Summary: Practical guide for bridging the communication gap with kids
Review: Sonny's interpretation of his own, sometimes tragic experiences, in childhood, are inspiring and validating of the human spirit's intention to make a difference in life. Beyond the story of his life, he creates a practical step by step process for children and parents to communicate with each other with respect and dignity, and to expand their experience of love.
Rating: 
Summary: Sonny Elliott's book models positive family communications.
Review: The opening of Sonny Elliott's book, "Mom, Dad Are You Listening?" recounts the author's experience growing up in a dysfunctional household and goes on to describe how this situation almost recycled itself in his role as a parent. After enduring a painful separation from his sons and waking up to an "unsettled feeling" one morning, Sonny sets out to examine his life so that his sons will not have to suffer the same upbringing he did. While soul searching for the answers that would lead him out of this pattern, Sonny experienced an epiphany one night that would prove to be a turning point in his relationship with his sons. He realized that in order to heal past mistakes, his sons needed the opportunity to speak freely and honestly about their childhood without their father defending himself or interrupting them. Of that night, Sonny writes, "I knew that the single biggest contribution I could make to the relationship between me and my son that night was to keep my mouth shut and listen from my heart. I knew I had to be present and available to him...I knew I had one job - to listen and really hear and see how it had been for him from his point of view. It was probably the longest night I had ever been through in my life..."Listening to the words children speak - especially our own children's - can be a painful process, and no one knows this better than Sonny Elliott. In his book "Mom, Dad Are You Listening?" readers are invited to join Sonny's life journey and discover with him what it means to really listen to and understand their children's experiences no matter how difficult this might be. Sonny writes candidly of his own fears facing this process. But he also writes of the joy he found rebuilding a relationship with his sons that he thought damaged beyond repair - and also shares with us the rewards that followed even years after that fateful night. Based on that night's experience, Sonny went on to create the concept of "The Family Connection," which teaches parents and children to communicate in an atmosphere of trust so that thoughts and feelings that need to be shared and validated are. You will see how this technique continued to build the bridges of communication in Sonny's own blended family in addition to witnessing the process at work in other families - and you will learn how it can work in yours. After reading "Mom, Dad Are You Listening?" you will be able to use Sonny's powerful work as a positive model for your own life and for the lives of your children and family as well.
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