Ellwyn Autumn's Blog, page 30

Let's Just Play

[image error] https://stocksnap.io/photo/ABK28A4XIG photographer David Schap   Childhood obesity, bullying, mental-illness, behavior problems, social anxiety, school violence, technology addiction: one underlying factor that has been all but tossed to the wayside can help alleviate these ailing, juvenile predicaments--play. Not the handheld-device kind of play, not the sedentary sport of sitting in front of the television with a headset on and a controller in your palm, the good old-fashioned, physical kind that requires a child's imagination and body stamina to perform.            While not a cure-all for every affliction plaguing our nation's youth, play is a sensible and therapeutic place to start when searching for a practical solution to the problems stated above. Play is beneficial for many aspects of human interaction. It stimulates cognitive growth, problem solving, language development, interpersonal connections and it's just plain fun.  As children, our hidden creative talents emerge and thrive through play and the self-expression it enables. Through play children are able to practice basic societal skills like negotiation and compromise. These two precursors to healthy human interaction are essential for adolescents and adults to function well in both private and public life.             A child who can play the role of mother or father during pretend play not only practices empathy for others, they also begin to develop successful parenting tools. The child who gets to reenact a stressful situation that left them feeling vulnerable, is able to vent their frustration and regain some semblance of control over their lives by re-writing the ending or working through the difficult details in a non-threatening way.                  The importance of play has been the cornerstone of child-development specialists and early childhood educators since the 19th century. The first kindergarten was started in Germany in 1837 by Friedrich Froebel. A strong advocate for play he said, “A child who plays thoroughly and perseveringly, until physical fatigue forbids, will be a determined adult, capable of self-sacrifice both for his own welfare and that of others.”            Although there is overlap, there are many different types of play, each one enhancing a certain skill set crucial for well-rounded development. The various types of play include:Gross/Fine MotorDramatic ConstructiveGames With Rules
            Gross and Fine motor play utilize the large and small muscles in the body. A visit to the playground, riding a bike, and jumping rope are examples of gross motor play, whereas cutting with scissors, painting, and manipulating small items like interlocking toys, make use of fine motor skills. 
            Dramatic play is a social experience where children use their imaginations to create or re-create various scenarios. Through the use of language and creative thinking, they practice different roles, whether it be a doctor or a server, and the societal norms that pertain to that situation.
            Constructive play calls on children to use materials like building blocks and sand to construct things. In order to develop a well thought out plan and proper organization of the materials, it necessitates a longer attention span to complete. 
            Games with Rules requires children to follow a specific set of rules in order for the game to be played effectively. More refined social and cognitive behaviors like self-control and concentration aid children in their ability to participate in these games with success.
            Dr. Gary Landreth's quote sums up my point perfectly, "A child's play is his 'work', and the 'toys' are his words."             If we removed the electronic distractions, if we adjusted our educational curriculum to allow play in all classrooms and gave children the time to do their 'work', we would be fostering a generation of critical thinkers, who could tackle problems with purposeful intentions, that would lead to viable results for generations to come.  

Further sources for reading:
https://valueofdramaticplay.wordpress...          (https://www.naeyc.org/yc/files/yc/fil...

Spooky Stories

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With everyone's favorite scary holiday just around the corner, I thought it appropriate to discuss a somber poem written by Mary Howitt and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi titled The Spider and the Fly. In the 2002 adaptation, DiTerlizzi's black-and-white illustrations are visually stunning. They capture the mood of the swanky Hollywood films that inspired him and are a perfect compliment to Howitt's lyrical words of wisdom.

 The Spider and the Fly is a classic, cautionary tale, warning travelers to never trust a sly stranger who hides his nefarious intentions behind abundant flattery and empty promises. Published in 1828, the story's ominous message still rings true today, and unfortunately it is something we must all teach our children and reinforce at Halloween, when asking strangers for sweets and treats is customary. 
 
 Along with National Fire Prevention Week, personal safety, and stranger danger are great topics to focus on in October. One way to broach a difficult subject with children is to read them a book about it first. A story can set the tone in a non-threatening way and open the door for meaningful conversation.   

        

Author Sai Marie Johnson

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Sai Marie Johnson is a multi-genre author from the Great Pacific North West. She has written a number of books and has another exciting novel coming out on Halloween 2017.
Forbidden Fantasies is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy about a young cambion that takes place in Nashville, Tennessee. 
You can pre-order your copy today on Amazon.

Children's Author Artie Bennett

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                                     https://www.amazon.com/Artie-Bennett/...


Yesterday I had the good fortune of meeting author Artie Bennett at River Reads, at Prallsville Mills, in Stockton, New Jersey. Mr. Bennett has written several books that will surely delight and educate children of all ages. Through rhyming verse and lively illustrations, Bennett's books address topics that children thoroughly enjoy laughing about. Some of his titles include The Butt Book and Poopendous! 

Bennett's book would be perfect for an 'All About Me' theme or a body awareness lesson.
Mr. Bennett enjoys visiting schools and libraries, and if his titles are any indication, his visit is sure to be filled with fun and endless giggles.



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Shoud We Still Read Dr. Seuss Books?

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Should we still read Dr. Seuss books to our children or not? Recently for me that's become a loaded question. Do we want to perpetuate the underlying messages woven into his books by reading them and carry on the imaginative spirit his work inspires; the fun and frivolity with words that parents, teachers, and students have taken to heart? Or do we dismiss his work, banning it from classrooms and libraries, because of his political views during a turbulent time in American history, when certain stereotypes among white Americans were the norm?            Like many children, my own grew up on Dr. Seuss books. Green Eggs and Ham was my son's absolute favorite book and the first one he read by himself in Kindergarten; one of the proudest moments of my life. I can still see him as a toddler sitting on his bedroom floor, pulling his Dr. Seuss books off of his shelf and carefully turning the pages.               Since the refusal of the school librarian in Boston, of Melania Trump's gift of Dr. Seuss books, I have felt it necessary to do some additional research on the prolific author. Some of my findings surprised me while others saddened me. As part of an author study, I have done superficial research of him in the past to provide a brief overview of his life to my students. I had never read that he was a racist so I was taken back when I heard about the Boston librarian's statement. I kept thinking how could one of the most beloved children's authors be a racist?            Theodor Seuss Gesiel (Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg, Rosetta Stone, Theophrastus Seuss) was an American author, political cartoonist, poet, artist, and publisher born on March 2, 1904. He died on September 24, 1991 at the age of 87.             He attended Dartmouth College and the University of Oxford where he assumed the pen name Dr. Seuss. After leaving Oxford, he began working for several different publications as a cartoonist and illustrator. He also worked on advertising campaigns for Flit and Standard Oil and as a political cartoonist for PM, a left-wing New York newspaper. It seems that some of his views were in direct conflict with each other. He supported the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, while frowning upon anti-Semitism and the treatment of blacks in the U.S. at the same time, which is also at odds, because of his portrayal of black people as savages, wearing grass skirts, in the Flit advertisements. Could he in his white-privileged ignorance have thought that these advertisements were innocuous?             As I processed this newfound information I realized that, while it is upsetting to know that Dr. Seuss held unctuous opinions, he was a product of his generation. In the Pre-Civil Rights Era racial relations were quite different, nonwhites were shunned and segregated from mainstream society. A sad truth that is part of our American history. In the 1940s, after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, emotions and fears were running high, the mob mentality ruled. We have witnessed this phenomenon ourselves with the mistreatment of Muslim Americans after the 9/11 attack.             Unfortunately among white Americans, Dr. Seuss's art form was accepted as the norm. Today, where most people have grown up in a more racially equitable society, they would criticize his political and advertising artwork and it would be rightly shunned. Dr. Seuss himself would agree with this consensus.            Although some of Dr. Seuss's work was controversial not all of it was negative. He did make some positive political statements in his writings that promoted diversity and cultural responsibility as well. Horton Hears A Who, a story about democracy, isolationism, and America's postwar occupation of Japan was dedicated to Mitsugi Nakamura, a Japanese man who Dr. Seuss named, 'my great friend.' The Sneetches had its roots in his opposition to anti-Semitism, The Lorax was a parable about the environment, and The Butler Battle Book took aim at the arms race.                    Like all of us, Dr. Seuss was a human being with flawed opinions. Fortunately, he realized his small-minded prejudice towards those who were different from him and changed tack. He evolved into a more accepting person that was later reflected in his work. Should we judge a man so harshly for a belief system that he was brought up in, when he had the cognizance to recognize its failures and change himself? Could we not use his life lesson as a teachable moment about personal and societal growth?            So, should we still read Dr. Seuss's books to our children or not? Ultimately, like so many political and controversial topics the decision is a personal one.
Sources and sites for further reading:http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/... http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/1...

Violence In The Classroom

[image error]Violence in the classroom, those two words should not be in the same sentence, let alone be allowed to occur in a school setting. Unfortunately, it does occur, every single day in classrooms across the country.              Each morning parents send their children to school expecting them to be educated by caring teachers in a safe and secure classroom. While some parents may be nervous entrusting their child to an adult stranger, they have peace of mind knowing that teachers go through a vetting process that includes a criminal background check, a child abuse clearance, and an FBI clearance.            Yes, teachers and administrators are approved to be in the classroom, but what about the students? In my 17-year career as a public school teacher, I witnessed a lot of violence enacted by children in my classroom. So much so, I had to leave the profession due to stress and mental fatigue.            What grade did I teach? The answer might surprise you. It wasn't middle school or high school. The last 3 1/2 years of my career I taught Kindergarten. That's right, Kindergarten. 30 students in a regular education setting, where both diagnosed and undiagnosed socially/emotionally disturbed children were placed. I was expected to teach all of these students and achieve measurable results through differentiated instruction, small and large group instruction, and following the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) goals of special needs children. A tall order when classrooms are overcrowded and your district has cut funding for vital programs and essential school personnel.             Things happened in my classroom you had to see to believe. One school year there was three sexual assaults in my classroom: children assaulting children. That same year, one of the students who'd committed an assault, tried to stab two classmates with a pair of scissors he'd brought in from home.            I've had chairs thrown at me and tables pushed into me. I've been punched, kicked, bitten, slapped, pinched, spat on, and pulled to the floor. I've had students empty an entire classroom library of books, throwing the books and book bins at their classmates.             I've had students push classmates down the stairs, stab each other with pencils, flip over shelves, jump and tackle students while they sat on the carpet, and down right brawl during instruction. One student liked to open and slam the door while I taught, another would sometimes scream whenever I opened my mouth to speak, or just scream for the sake of screaming. One student threw chairs at his classmates for fun! He laughed while he did it.            On more than one occasion, I had to remove students from the classroom due to violent outbursts by their peers. Children can't learn when a classmate is throwing chairs at them or climbing on cubbies while throwing pencil boxes and lunch bags at them.             When I couldn't control the severe and dangerous behaviors I was penalized. My principal gave me poor scores on my observations. To some this may sound unbelievable. How could a teacher be held accountable for the actions of children, who should be learning social norms at home, and receiving the medical support they need from their parents? I asked myself that question everyday until I resigned from my position.            This is the first school year that I'm not teaching. I had hoped that the teacher who took over my classroom would have a better experience than I had, but according to one employee who works there, things are still the same. This cycle of educational neglect needs to be undone. What more has to happen before we as a society take collective responsibility for our nation's educational future? Many of us are so busy pointing fingers at those with differing points of view that we've lost sight of the truth: our nation's children are losing out on their inalienable right to a free and fair public education that is rigorous and utilizes the latest research-based methods.             There has been a strong push to increase the literacy skills of students. Our students need to compete in an ever-evolving global economy. While I agree that being literate is essential to a productive society, I would argue that nurturing our youngest citizens mental health should come first.  

Bedtime Stories with David Shannon

[image error]                                                                                No, David! by: David Shannon
    No, David is a hilarious story about a little boy who has trouble making good decisions. Whenever he does something he's not supposed to his mother always says no, David. As you can imagine his mother has to say 'no' quite a lot.
David's bad ideas lead to naughty antics every parent, teacher, and child can relate to. Everyone's family or classroom has an impulsive child who needs constant reinforcement to do the right thing. Children adore this book. It was a big hit every single time I read it to my students in September. Once I put a copy in the classroom library, they would constantly revisit the story throughout the school year, and giggle through conversations about David and his bad ideas.
No, David! is the perfect story to discuss appropriate behavior with your child. It is also a good segue into talking about consequences for one's actions and accepting responsibility for them. While you read with your child, discuss David's actions and whether he's doing the right thing. Together, brainstorm ideas on how David should behave and how he can make things right for his naughty behavior. 

HOMEWORK

After a lengthy day of sitting at a desk and listening to their teacher's instructions, your child comes home from school. They drop their heavy schoolbag bursting with books and announce, "I have so much homework!" Right then you know you're in for a long evening of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
STOP-RIGHT-THERE!
I do not consider myself an expert on this topic, but students should not be bringing an exorbitant amount of work to do at home. I believe that homework is supposed to be a chance for children to practice and reinforce what they learned earlier in school that day. The next day, that homework is then supposed to provide a quick assessment for understanding, and an opportunity for the teacher to answer any questions the students may have encountered during the assignment, through a mini-lesson. 
I've been through the 'crazy nights' of homework where the teacher assigned 20 math problems and my child didn't know how to do one, let alone all 20. Two or three problems would have been sufficient practice. I've also helped my child complete assignments, a.k.a. busywork, that had nothing to do with what they were learning in school at the time. What a waste of time! I think some teachers and parents hold to the archaic belief, that an abundant amount of homework leads to better learning.  
Although I assigned homework to my Kindergarten class, I questioned it's validity. After being in school all day should a five-year old really have to sit down for more written work? There were times when I didn't want to assign it, but school administration required it. Some parents would complain to the office when a teacher didn't send work home for the night. When I assigned homework to my class, I did my best to keep it simple for them and differentiate the homework to the students' ability levels. I wasn't always able to accomplish this goal due to time constraints and resources. Also, preparing homework this way can be very difficult to plan and keep track of.
For example, if I had a student who had poor fine motor skills and couldn't identify the letter of the week, I would give them a worksheet that required them to color the uppercase and lowercase letters different colors. Whereas another child, whose skill set was more advanced, would receive a worksheet that required more writing and initial sound practice. I tried to make the homework brief and meaningful.            Like the subject of education itself, homework can be a controversial topic. For further information on the topic please view the link below. It has a list of resources that are perfect for an informed discussion between teachers, parents, and administrators.
http://www.alfiekohn.org/article/reth...

The Kissing Hand by: Audrey Penn

[image error]The Kissing Hand is a popular back-to-school read aloud used by teachers every September. It is an endearing story that tells of a young raccoon named Chester Raccoon who is reluctant to leave his mother, because he is anxious about starting school for the first time. To ease his anxiety, Mrs. Raccoon tells him about a special secret that will help him should he begin to he miss her during the school day. The special secret is called the kissing hand.

The Kissing Hand demonstrates the strength each parent must show when their child achieves a milestone toward independence; the bitter sweetness of pride at their accomplishment and loss as you realize your child is growing up a little more each day. It also shows that while children grow and need us less and less, their love, like ours remains constant. 

This is a wonderful story to share with your child and offers a great opportunity to start a discussion about any fears they may have about going to school. If you'd like to do a fun follow-up activity with your child, Pinterest has plethora of story-related ideas.

Other books by Audrey Penn:


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$chool $upplie$

Every September, supply list in hand, wallets open, parents and their children flock to the stores to purchase the items required by the new teacher. This is an expensive time of year, the items on those supply lists add up. I once overheard a child ask their parent, "Why does the teacher make us buy all of this stuff?" That's a very good question, and lucky for anyone asking the same thing, I have a very good answer.  

While families are dolling out money on notebooks, paper towels and hand sanitizer, teachers are doing the same thing. As a former public school teacher, I can tell you with confidence that teachers are out there right now buying pencils, markers, crayons, construction paper, and whatever else is needed to ensure your child succeeds in their lessons. This may come as a surprise to some, but not all public schools have the necessary supplies to make it through a successful school day. Tissues and toilet paper were a hot commodity at one school where I taught. I know it sounds absurd, but it is a sad truth.

My first year teaching Kindergarten, I was assigned to a classroom that furnished me with tables, chairs, lined paper, a disintegrating carpet, and leveled books for guided reading. I had to buy everything else: scissors, markers, crayons, pencils, containers for storage, the list goes on and on. I spent over $1000.00 dollars that school year on basic supplies and other educational items I needed to properly instruct my students. 

All in all, school supplies are costly for everyone involved and 'everyone' is the key word in this situation. As parents and educators, we are all responsible for the education of our children; whether we like it or not, part of that education requires everyone chipping in for school supplies, toiletries, office supplies, snacks, field trips, fund raisers... Did I mention school supplies?