I'm Best

It is always a challenge to find the right balance, between helping a child feel good about him or herself and having him or her feel better than others. Two books that broach this topic are I’m the Best by Lucy Cousins and I’m Number One by Michael Rosen and Bob Graham. While both books send the same message, I‘m the Best is less wordy and more to the point. We all want children to feel good out themselves, but not at the expense of others. It seems there is always one child in a class who feels a little too empowered or becomes a little too bossy. Point out to the bossy child that you like that they share their ideas and organize play, but that they also need to listen to others ideas. Plan some cooperative games and place some cooperative toys in the classroom. You could have children make cooperative pictures or draw each other with child. Try having the children give each other compliments and make books about all the good things about every child in the room. Having a class full of children with positive self-esteem is something I wish for all of us.

I love reading new children's books! You can find a book on just about any topic. Bernice recently shared a few that would be appropriate for parents to read to their children. You might want to recommend the first book to anyone expecting a child. "There's Going To Be a Baby" by John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury would help children understand what it means when they are told a new baby is on the way. The book takes the older child's perspective and answers some of the many questions that come up. I especially like that as the mom talks about what the baby might do in the future, the child imagines how a baby might look as a doctor or an artist. The real value is the the way the book addresses the feelings a child might have, but ends on a positive note. Reading and rereading the book will help children with the long wait and help them look forward to being a big brother or sister.

"Growing Strong" by Christina Goodlings and Masumi Furukawa is a book to help children learn about taking care of themselves. The book is divided into short sections which discuss everything from being healthy and fit to accepting ones self. Hearing these messages at a young age help children develop good health habits which will start them off right for a healthy lifestyle. It is never too soon to teach your child how to take care of him or herself and don't forget children will learn best by watching what adults do.

Saving Money

I was very pleased to see the new book, Just Saving My Money by Mercer Mayer. Bernice, at the Franklin County Library System, sent me the book for this blog. At first, you may wonder what a book about money has to do with social emotional skills but saving money is the ability to delay gratification. It has to do with impulse control and we all know how important that can be. As pleased as I was about the social- emotional aspect, I was excited to find an age appropriate book which addresses PA Early Learning Standard 6.5 -Work and Earnings. I haven't found too many that are appropriate for preschool children, but this one fits the bill.

There are many ways to use this book in the classroom. Some teachers like to give reward points, tokens, or hearts to the class for good behavior. This book would be perfect for a discussion of what kind of reward the children would like to have when they reach the goal or target. It would also go along with a class saving pennies for a community project. Your class might want to save their pennies to donate book to the local library, buy a gift for the cafeteria workers, or the residents of a local nursing home. Of course, you could just use the book to teach about money and banks. Even though children will only to able to have a beginning understanding, a field trip to a local bank could be a good learning experience. With ATMs and direct deposits, many children may never have been inside a bank.

Push Button

We can always count on Aliki to write quality literature. In her new book, Push Button, the Push Button Kid spends his time pushing the many buttons in his world, but then his finger gets sore and he turns to books. As he reads, his creativity comes to life and he decides to do some of the things he read about. The book will come to life and capture children's interest when you get the children involved in making the sounds and doing the actions.

Children love to push buttons and see what happens. It is part of investigating the world, but it is only one part. The book helps children extend what is read and put it into action.

In the classroom, there are a number of ways to use the book to teach social emotional skills, depending on your objective. Sometimes I have children who can't seem to settle into an activity. They go from center to center touching this or that, but never really engage in play. This would be a good teaching tool, to help them make a plan of what they would like to do at center time. I would ask children to pick an activity they would like to try and then help them become engaged in the activity, possibly with another child. Sometimes children don't know how to play together. If an adult identifies another child who wants to do a similar activity, the children have a better chance at successful interaction. At circle time, I might note that billy wants to build in blocks. I would ask him what he plans to build and then ask if others wanted to do the same. When the children arrive at the block center, they have a common goal.

I might also use the book to encourage children who seem stuck in one activity to use the ideas from the book, to try out something new.

At other times, I might just use the book to help the children see the wonder of themselves and all the things they can do and the sounds they can make!

Enjoy!

I Can Be Anything

If you are like me, you are probably thinking that this is another book about all the careers a child can choose, when he or she grows up. I Can Be Anything by Jerry Spinelli and illustrated by Jimmy Liao is much more relevant to a young child's life. Some of the choices in this beautifully illustrated book are dandelion blower and puppy dog holder. Children will build a positive self concept as they come up with ideas about all the things they can be an do. In the end, the important message is that we don't have to choose to be just one thing, we can do anything. Short, simple, easy to understand, and should be a part of every classroom!

All Dolled Up

Brownie and Pearl Get Dolled Up is a story by Cynthia Rylant with pictures by Brian Biggs. This fun book is all about a little girl and her pup, who dress up, just for the fun of it. Most of us feel better when we dress up in our fancy clothes. It is a great way to spend a some time when you and the children are stuck indoors-of course it is fun to go outside and show your fancy clothes too.

While my first thought, was that this is a "girl" book, there is no reason boys couldn't relate and have fun dressing up too. In most cultures, there are special times when dressing up is the norm, but there may be some families one parent or the other may not dress up very much, so this is a great topic to discuss. Why do adults dress up and where do they go? What does dressing up look like? How do you feel when you dress up?

Pretending is such an important activity for children. I often bring up the topic of of "dressing up" when I discuss celebrations. I provide lots of different fancy outfits and encourage them to try them on. This helps them understand and act familiar situations. Pretending to leave the kids for the evening is a great social-emotional experience which helps children deal with separation. Extend it even more and help your children plan a tea party for another classroom. Encourage everyone to dress up and don't forget to discuss that people are sometimes a little nervous or excited when they have special dress up events. Another idea is to set up a photography studio in the pretend center and let children pretend they are going to have their picture taken. So many rich social-emotional and language learning opportunities. Use your own ideas, but don't forget to start with the book, Brownie and Pearl Get Dolled Up.

"Max and the Dumb Flower Picture"

This delightful book was created from a manuscript and drawings by Martha Alexander, with the help of James Rumford. It should be required reading for every early childhood teacher. Children will enjoy it too. The story is about a boy who wants to make his own picture, rather that using the coloring sheet given by his teacher. The book clearly sends the message that when each of us uses our own ideas and creativity, the results are amazing. It is also a good reminder that there is often more than one right way to do things and to appreciate the talents of others.

Even though the little boy in the story does run away from the classroom, which is not a positive model, it can also be used as a teaching tool for children to use words to say what they want.

By encouraging even young children to make their own pictures, they can learn to appreciate their own work, as well as the work of others.

"Maybe a Bear Ate It!"

My two year old grandson loves this book and so do I. This short simple book by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley is a story about losing a favorite book, imagining the worst, coming to your senses, looking for it, and eventually finding it. This series of events happens to me about once a day and I've learned to handle it, but when a child loses a prized possession, it may seem the world is ending. Read the story with 2-5 year olds, laugh together and teach a simple lesson about looking before you panic!

Looking Like Me

Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated by Christopher Myers is a great book which will promote self esteem and build respect for others. In this book, which is more poetry than prose, we learn about a young black boy, who is looking for his identity. The boy in this story finds that he is a son, a brother, a talker, a dancer, a city kid and more. Children will quickly catch on to the rhythm of the words which will help to grab their attention and keep them interested.

This book is especially appealing because it has something for 3 year olds and up. Younger children will learn about relationships and that they can have more than one identity, while older ones will begin to see than what is apparent at first impression. The story encourages children to find out more about themselves and others. Help each child create journal about themselves. Children can add to these as their identities and relationships change. You just may start a life long habit of appreciating themselves.

Sharing

Should you make another child share? As I write that sentence, I realize what a silly phase it is to say, "make a child share." You can seldom make a child share. You can take a toy from him or her which teaches that it is OK to take things from others or you can prod, coax, and distract them until they give in to the request. Neither of which promotes the concept we want to teach. So take a moment and define what sharing means to you. Should children be made to share? Would you like it, if you had just started to build an elaborate building and someone told you to share? Do you share your favorite pen?

As a child, I remember hiding some of my prized possessions when certain children would come to visit. Why? I knew they tended to break toys and if I wanted to have my things for another day, I couldn't let these individuals, see them. Was my mother wrong to allow this? I don't think so.

While I don't have the answer to the sharing question, Bernice and the Franklin County Library System has provided us with a great book to encourage sharing. Mine, All Mine! by Claire Hawcock and Chiara Pasqualotto is the story a little squirrel who doesn't want to share his snowflake. Children will love the raised snowflakes in the book. Anyone who has trouble sharing will relate to Little squirrel's dilemma of keeping the snowflake to himself or playing with others. Use this story to get children talking about sharing. Sometimes we spend so much time creating rules, settling problems, we forget to see what thoughts the children have on the topic.

The Story Blanket

The Story Blanket may be one of my new favorites. It is too long and may be a little abstract for the youngest children, but older children will begin to understand how the people of the town care for each other. Babba Zarrah, the main character has a story blanket which she unravels little by little to make gifts for the people of the village. When all of her yarn is gone and she no longer has a blanket the people of the town find a way to give back to Babba and this circular story begins again.

There are several underlining directions you could go with this story. You may want to talk about how the people of town care for each other and give of them selves. You could also focus on the concept of working together. Children may want to find someone they can help by each of them giving just a little of themselves. Each child may want to donate a square of cloth and make a quilt for someone.

I also like that Babba Zarrah, says, "Every question has an answer." This attitude of "I can find a solution to the problem" is so important for building resilient children.

You might want to follow up with a reading of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, in which the main character makes various pieces of clothing from an old overcoat. Children could discuss similarities of the two stories.

Momma Loves Her Little Son

John Carter Cash created this story based on words his mother sang to him as a child. Mary Burckhardt illustrated this beautiful book about a mother's love for her son. The more I learn the better I understand that one of the powerful elements of reading a book is the relationship building aspect. This book is perfect for building that relationship. Children who hear this book read will certainly associate a positive feeling with reading and books.

This is a great story to read anytime of the day, but especially at bedtime. During or after the story imagine all the things you and your child could do together or ways to express your love for each other. You may even make your own book to illustrate your love.

While a little wordy for a newborn, this book could be a great gift for someone with a new baby. How wonderful to grow up hearing the message of this book repeated over and over as a child grows.

All of Me

All of Me, a Book of Thanks, by Molly Bang is another book with great illustrations and a book which will help children build self awareness and an appreciation of themselves and their bodies. A great book to use with an All About Me theme, you could easily have children follow up with a book about themselves. Take time to make a page or two each day. You could work on this for two weeks or so, especially if take time to provide different art materials for illustrations.

The back of the book even has a section on how the book was made. I like this because, as the children hear you read the text about creating books, the children will learn about being more intentional in their work. The author talks about using red crayons. Use that to have the children think about what color (s) they will use, before starting to draw. Teaching children to stop and think before taking action is a skill that has many applications.

How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

Most adults who read to children are familar with the work of Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, but How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? may well be my favorite. The dinosaurs in the story do some common child behaviors, but the simple message is that they are still loved. It is a great book for every child to hear. For a follow up, give each child a great big hug! If you want to do someething more, have the children make a book of how they say they love people.

Quiet Bunny

Quiet Bunny by Lisa McCue would be worth picking up, if only for the beautiful illustrations. But there is much more to it, as a small rabbit tries to find his voice. He listens to the other animals and tries to makes sounds as they do. Eventually he discovers how he too can join in the with the "night sound" song. The story conveys the advantages of being still and listening, as well as the the value and uniqueness of individuals. It is a feel good story with a pleasing ending.

After reading the story have children talk about the things they can do. Drawing self portraits would also be a good follow up. It might also be valuable to have the children go outdoors and simply be quiet, using their senses to observe the environment. Many children need to be taught to slow down and observe. It just doesn't come naturally to them, but they may find pleasure and comfort in the experience. Just as many adults find sitting quietly in the outdoors or listening to a water feature refreshing, with practice some children may learn to use this as a calming technique.

While the text is a little long for the youngest children, the story line is perfect for them and could easily be shorten. Helping these young children pretend to be a quiet bunny, even if only for a few minutes, is worth the time and it just might be the quiet break you need too!

Lessons from the Best Teachers

Happy New Year!

Since starting my new position, I have not kept up with my writing, as I had hoped I would. If all works out, I will be sharing some good new books with you soon. What I have been able to do is gain an even greater respect for all of you who are in the classroom day after day dealing with the challenging behaviors of the children in your class. What a great learning experience this has been. While I spend some days observing, I spend other days working with teachers and children.

So what have the best teachers taught me?

Have realistic expectations. Think about the child’s previous environment and his current home environment. My grandson, who is days from being 2, spent much of the holiday with me. His daily routine is so different from the routines in our classrooms. He has one on one attention almost all day long. He is almost constantly engaged with an adult or his brother. Someone always responds to his words, always cheers his successes and helps him when things don’t work out quite right. He takes as long as he wants to eat and if he is hungry an hour later, he gets more food. He goes from toy to toy and we accept that as being ok. We expect him to get a little grouchy when he is tired and plan accordingly. And yes, he is only two, but some of the children in our classrooms are only three and their needs are not that different.

Have positive expectations. Don’t underestimate the children and don’t expect the worst from them. Give children many chances to show what they can do. Find ways to help them be successful. Remember success breeds success.

Engage the children. Don’t worry about all the things you think you need to teach. It will not matter if the children in your class don’t know the days of the week It is much better that they are all engaged in the activity or the story. When children are engaged they are learning about more than just the topic. They are learning how to function appropriately in a group. When they are not engaged they are learning about getting attention from the teacher for their “misbehavior.” They are learning to associate a negative feeling with school and group times. Again, successful, correct behaviors will build more positive behaviors.

Pick your priorities and along with that say what you mean and mean what you say. Figure out what is important to you and then if you say it, follow through, otherwise your words becoming meaningless. Take time to see that the child does as you ask.

So give yourself a pat on the back, the job you have is far from easy. You need to be constantly aware, constantly thinking ahead, and always positive. You are remarkable individuals whose work is so very important.