Take Good Care of Your Teeth

Part of social-emotional growth is having a good self concept. Part of that positive image comes from taking care of yourself. While this is easy for some children, others tend to have little interest in brushing teeth and combing hair. While browsing the library shelves, I noticed a book about tooth care that was very different from what you ordinarily find. In this book, children learn facts about taking care of their teeth from various animals. For example, a shark reminds kids to take time brushing. On the same page we learn about how many teeth a shark has in a lifetime. Snail reminds children about healthy eating and I learned that snails have teeth, a lot of them. While not the book for every child, it just might appeal to those children who like animals, facts and informational books.


I also like that the book has local roots, at least for folks in central Pennsylvania. The author, Floyd Stokes and illustrator, Mikell Worley live in the area. Many of the children may have seen Mr. Stokes, sometimes known as SuperReader, preform at a local library or school.

Who's Out There?

I see all the great ideas Kay is posting. I know you are reading and absorbing them. I hope we are helping you. Please add your own comments and ideas, so we can chat about them. If you have suggestions about what to include on this weblog or website, please let us know in a comment.

Thank you.

Books for Adults and Children

Our classrooms are using a new behavioral assessment this year. The big difference I see between this one and others which I have used, is that it looks at the positive attributes more than the negative ones. We all know that resilient children can survive through challenging situations, but what makes one child able to do this and another not? The new program we are using asks teachers to look at these strengths in a child. One of these strengths is initiative. I couldn't help but think of this when I read the book, Bad Boys Get Henpecked by Margie Palatni and Henry Cole. Willy and Wally, the wolves, sure have plenty of initiative as they work to gain the trust of Mrs. Hen, all in the hopes of delicious chicken dinner. I'm not sure about the lesson for children in this book, but I do think adults could do well to think about the strengths of the wolves in the story. They are able to come up with a plan to get a dinner by becoming handymen and working in the hen house. They are also hard workers as they do laundry, mop, vacuum, and more. As a teacher or parent it is good to find a way to recognize positive attributes and put them to work for good. So I urge you to check out this funny book, but more importantly to look at the strengths of your most challenging children. Yes, they may be persistent or demanding, but that may be just the skill that keeps them working at figuring out a math problem or applying for jobs. They may be constantly on the go, but that may be the characteristic which allows them to work a full time job and go to college as an adult. Take time to see how to appreciate and direct the those challenging behaviors!

Another book that would be just as good to read with adults as the children is Hurry Up and Slow Down by Layn Marlow Tortoise likes to take his time through the day and Hare is always telling him to, "Hurry up!" That is until bedtime when the Hare is ready to slow down and listen to the bedtime story, but Tortoise just wants to get through the story. Children can learn to appreciate others who move at different speeds, but it is the adults who often need to step back and see how they rush children through the day and don't always take time to enjoy being with the children. So I remind you, just as Hare reminds Tortoise, "Hurry up and slow down! We need to take our time Tortoise. We need to look at the pictures!"

Finding Friends

Wouldn't it be wonderful, if it was easy for every child to make friends? Some children are so good at finding friends, they don't understand how it feels to want a friend. One Brown Bunny by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by Ivan Bates is a good way to start a conversation and build an awareness about how it feels to want a friend and how to approach others with whom you would like to be friends. This short counting book is about one bunny going from place to place asking others to come and play. Before reading ask the children to start thinking about how it feels to want something and not be able to have it. Build some empathy for the bunny and then at the end you can work to build empathy for those who ask to play, but are not included. Use the story to also help teach words people use when they want to play with others. Some children just don't know what words to say. With some creative use of props you could have your class act out the story, which ends with everyone coming to be bunny's friend. Take time to teach the skills children need to make friends. Quietly recognize children when they include others in play.
For more information on the topic, read Vivian Paley's book, "You Can't Say, You Can't Play." It was written a number of years ago, but is still full of valuable insights.

Katy Did It

I could not resist using the title of this book for the title of this blog entree. Katy may have done it, but I sure have been behind on my postings. Bernice has been great about sending me some great new books, so read on!

Katy Did It by Lorianne Siomades is the story of a katydid whose hopping always gets her in trouble,until one day when she saves the day! A good story to help each child see that the things we do, can be used for the good of others. After reading the story, encourage children think about the things they like to do and how they can use that ability to help others. The child who talks all the time, might be able to use that talent to help a new classmate. The child who stays awake at nap, might be able to use that extra energy to work on a special project to help the teacher or another child. The child who loves to show how tough he or she is, can use that strength to help others. As teachers it is our job, to put a child's attributes to good use. All of us make mistakes along the way, so be sure to let children know they aren't the only ones who unintentionally cause a problem or two. How sad it can be to see a child's enthusiasm extinguished Help children find ways to be appreciate themselves and their abilities!

Peep is the story of a little chick, who is afraid to use his abilities. This short simple story by Maria Van Lishout is about taking a risk. Little Peep is afraid to take a leap. You might want to read this story before introducing a new experience, in which you know some children will be hesitant to participate. It might be best to read in a small group with those who are not risk takers! See if you can get them to talk about something they want to do. Have the children draw themselves doing those things. Have them talk about how it might feel. Getting some background info from parents could help you know what kinds of things the children fear doing. Overcoming fears takes time, but this book could be a small start.

I still have a number of good social emotional books sitting beside the computer, so there should be another post soon!

Have a great school year!

New Books!

I was so please to see some new books on my local library shelves. With all the problems caused by the economy, I thought it might be awhile until I found some new books to write about. The treasures I found quickly made me want to start writing again.

First there was We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers written by Bridget Hurst, with characters created by Lauren Child. I often shy away from books with a TV connection, but not this time. The message about recycling is way too important. If you like Charlie and Lola, you'll like this book.

Murphy's Three Homes by Jan Levinson Gilman and illustrated by Kathy O'Malley is a story for children in foster care. It is the story of a dog who has had several homes. Murphy experiences many of the same feelings that children in foster care my have.

It is Time for School with Tallulah is by by Nancy Wolff. I am not quite sure who the intended audience might have been,. While I found that some of the text and pictures looked like what you see in primary or elementary school, most of the book appeared to be preschool. In any case the concept behind the book is great. Talluah is a very kind teacher and children will enjoy the pictures and simply having a conversation about what will happen when they go to school.

I may not write as often as last year, but I will be sure to share any good, new, social-emotional books I find.

Have a great school year!

Data Driven Instruction

I just returned from the Governor's Institute and wanted to share a little of what we learned. The main topic was data driven instruction. Maybe not the most exciting title, but the when teachers collect information about what children know, plan and teach accordingly, then assess and analyze before teaching again, the result are amazing. Differentiating instruction is a way of teaching I believe in. Children have such a wide difference in knowledge and abilities, I cannot imagine teaching all children the same way.

What kinds of information should teachers collect? You want to find out what the child knows so you don't teach too far below or above his understanding. You also want to learn the child's approach to work. Is the child slow to start or does he jump in impulsively? Does he like to talk things over with others or figure things out himself? You also want to observe to see if the child is having trouble seeing or hearing.

How do we collect information about children? Quite often it is through observation. It may be a written record such as an anecdotal record or a running record. Some teachers find checklists work best for certain skills such as physical activities. The collection of work samples is also popular, but collection is not enough. Teachers need a way to quantify the work. Rubrics are one way to do that.

What do you do with the information once it has been collected? As I said earlier, use the information to make decisions about how best to teach the child. You can also use it to help parents have a better understanding of the child's knowledge and set learning goals for the next step. We also learned that it is important to share info with a child about what they did. In that way the child can see what he has accomplished and know what he has to work on next. If a child is not having success, the information you gathered can be used as evidence for the need for a referral or special services.

If you have questions about what I wrote, want more information about some of the terms I used, or specific methods to use when collecting info, drop a note in the comment section.

Elephant and Piggie Books

It took me awhile to be a fan of Mo Williams, but now I know it is worth my time to check out whatever he writes. Actually it is often the drawings that make his books so good, but now I am rambling. Today, I am writing about his series of books about two friends. The Elephant and Piggie Books tittles include: My Friend is Sad, I Am Invited to a Party, I Love My New Toy!, and I Will Surprise My Friend!, as well as a number of others. While the books have limited text and can be read by beginning readers, in my mind, they are best when shared with others. My 5 year old grandson, an independent reader found the books interesting from cover to cover. I read four with him and then he read a fifth on his own. He told me about it and then asked me to read it with him.

All of the books can easily spur discussions on social emotional situations involving the two friends. They are funny yet many convey the important message that friends are more important than material things. Take time to check them out!

If you want to learn more about Mo Williams and his books, check out his website at http://www.mowillems.com There is info for parents, teachers, and children. Enjoy!

Friends, Working Together

Being a friend is a difficult concept for children to understand. Appreciating each others strengths is often equally hard. Tiny and Hercules by Amy Schwartz is a collection of very short stories about two friends, a mouse and an elephant. The fact that they are so different works out for the best, as they use their differing abilities to help each other.

After reading the story have the children relate times when they helped a friend. See if they can create a group story about friends. Over the next few days observe as they children play and photo or report to them times when you saw friends working together. A visual reminder of how to play together is a great reinforcing positive interactions.

It is also worthwhile for each child to see that he or she has something to contribute to a friendship. Help children to value what they can do and then they may be able to better value another child's contribution. Take time to praise specific actions. Children need to hear exactly what action you are pointing out. Say, "I liked that you passed the box to Bill. That way you can both have fun with the toys." This tells what you are acknowledging and why. Later point out how Bill helps his friend. Children who learn early in life to work together will have a much better chance for success and happiness.

Empowerment

It is never to early to help children understand that they can make a difference and to stand up for what they feel is important. Ballyhoo Bay by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Derek Anderson is just the book to plant that seed into the minds of children. The story is told in rhyme and has lots of fun pictures for children to examine. It starts out with Mira Bella planning a special art event at the beach. But just before the big day, signs go up announcing the beach is to be developed with parking lots and penthouses. Mira Bella and her friends don't let this setback stop them. They attend a meeting and convince the town council to keep the beach as it is. This may sound like a hefty topic for young children, but the author keeps the text simple enough to be understood my most preschoolers.

This would be a great book to read when the children discover a problem in their environment. Maybe the lunch area is too crowded, or there is too much trash on the playground, or they need a crosswalk in front of the school. Whatever the problem, help the children advocate for a change. If the children don't have a problem tell them about an issue that is important to children such as cutbacks in preschool or library funding and go from there. Our local library has coloring sheets for children to color and mail to local legislators. The coloring sheets advocate library funding. You could help the children make a DVD or write stories about the issue.

Even if you don't have a cause, I like the book because children can see that sometimes even the best plans don't work out, there are disappointments, and you have to figure out a new plan rather than give up.

Family Vacation

Take time to read The Bunnies' Trip (2008) by Lezlie Evans and illustrated by Kay Chorao and it might just save a headache or two as the family starts out on a trip. My son should have read it to my grandson before he sent him off to pack for a visit a grandmas. While the children in this story packed a garden hose, horn, and weights, in his suitcase was a mismatched set of pjs, a large green elephant, and an assortment of other small items. Forgotten were the glasses, toothbrush, underwear, flip flops, swim trunks, and shirts. As anyone who has traveled with children might suspect, the children in this story also complain of being tired and annoy each other.

We all do better when we know what to expect. Taking time to discuss the important things to pack, things to do and to keep us comfortable while traveling, and what to expect when arriving at the destination will pay off for both the children and adults. If you are teaching in a preschool environment, help the children prepare lists of things you might take on a trip. Not only will it help children fell more comfortable, list making is a good cognitive skill that helps children with organization and categorizing.

There is usually a lot of excitement about a family trip, parents need to take time to check in with how the children are feeling about the trip. Do they have any apprehensions? Do they have what they need to sleep comfortably in a new environment? Do they know what they can do if they become scared when meeting unfamiliar people? Children who have a chance to prepare for any new experience will be most likely have more positive behaviors.

Wherever you go this summer, have a wonderful trip!

Be a Good Citizen

Part of having good social-emotional skills is being a good citizen. It builds self esteem and confidence to know you are doing your part for the good of the community. One of the simplest, but most concrete things children can do is to help with recycling and generally take care of the environment. There are two news books will help you teach the children in your lives how they can help "save the world."
The first book is George Saves the World by Lunchtime. It is by Jo Readman and Ley Honor Roberts. The book is in storybook format, but also included some informational inserts. Michael Recycle, by Ellie Bethel and illustrated by Alexandra Colombo is a written in rhyme and is not quite as wordy. Use them both together and the children should be enthusiastic about recycling! Make sure to give them some practical hands on activities to so they can see they do have the ability to help. Better yet them them brainstorm and come up with things they would like to do. Get families involved and you might just feel that together you making a difference in your community.

Don't Forget to Sing

Singing is good to build children's literacy skills, but did you ever think about how important it is to a child's social-emotional development? We've probably all used music to comfort an infant, but older children can find comfort in songs and can use them to relieve their own stress. They also become confident when they know songs and can join in and sing with others. I believe singing can be build relationships, both between adults and other children. So take time to teach the children in your life some of the traditional songs you enjoyed.

If you are at a loss for songs to sing, there are many good books at the library. The children in my class enjoyed the book and song, "There Once was a Man Named Micheal Finnegan" by Mary Ann Hoberman this year. They also enjoyed Miss Mary Mack by the same author. There are many other books based on a songs such as "On Top of Spaghetti" by Paul Brett Johnson, "The Lady with the Alligator Purse" by Nadine Bernard Westcot, "Five Little Ducks" by Raffi, and "The Wheels on the Bus" by Annie Kubler.


Here are a few song titles you might have forgotten about:

Cat Goes Fiddle-i-fee
The Ants Go Marching
Bingo
Baby Bumble Bee
This Old Man
The Little Skunk's Hole
S-M-I-L-E
Ten in Bed
Bear Went Over the Mountain
It's Raining, It's Pouring
The More We Get Together
She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain
Skidamarink
I'm a Little Teapot

If you need lyrics, try:

www.kiddles.com/lyrics/index/html or http://bussongs.com/

"Ruby in Her Own Time" and "D.W. The Big Boss"

Some of us just take a little longer to master different skills. Ruby in Her Own Time" by Jonathan Emmett and Rebecca Harry is the reassuring story of a duck named Ruby, who takes her time learning to eat and swim.
Spring is the perfect time to read this story. Children are outside playing with others. Some of them are learning to hit a ball, ride a bike. and others will soon be learning to swim. Not everyone will be good at these things and Ruby in Her Own Time will help 4 and 5 year be a little more accepting of themselves as they work to learn a new skill.
In the classroom, children can discuss the things they want to learn to do. Some of the older students may be able to share stories of how they learned those same skills. Children need to hear that it takes practice to master a skill and that others had trouble learning too. Knowing that your best friend fell off her bike before learning to ride may be just what is needed to give you the confidence to keep trying.
On the other hand, if you know a child who is just a tad over confident and likes to tell others how things should be done, you might want to read, D.W. The Big Boss by Marc Brown. Family members don't like having D.W. boss them around and D.W. soon learns that bossing them does not work in her favor. It is often a fine line between being helpful and being bossy and children don't always realize the difference. Come up with a few scenarios for the children to act out. Let them decide if the person is bossy or helpful. While they may not be able to agree on one right answer, it might just get them thinking.

Big Book of Fears

I'm sitting at home, alone on Saturday evening, but don't feel sorry for me because I am having a wonderful time reading a selection of new children's books. I just finished Emily Gravett's Big Book of Fears. If you enjoy unique books full of creative, fun illustrations, you need to check out this book. The book is designed as a "journal" to help an artist mouse overcome his many fears. Before sharing the story with children, read it yourself. Help children to understand that the mouse got the book to help him get over his fears. Show them where the mouse has been chewing on the book and let them know, the mouse has added entries in the book about his fears. Younger preschoolers will not be able to appreciate all this book has to offer, but many primary school children could spend thirty minutes or more just examining the illustrations, especially if they have an enthusiastic adult close by. I've been through it three times and each time discover something new.
After my first reading, I knew the illustrations were brilliant, but I wondered if it would really help children deal with their fears. After all fear is a strong emotion which often doesn't respond to logic. While it is hard to find one book that meets the needs of all children, there is a segment of children who want to know how things work and will be please to find out that there is a scientific name for their fears, including the fear of monsters. It will give them a sense of control to be able to identify their feelings and write down their fears as the mouse did. As children record their fears and some possible solutions, they can reflect on the fears and better understand them. I've often heard that gifted children sometimes have more worries, because they have a deeper understanding of things to worry about. This is a perfect book for those children.
Even if you don't have a fearful child in your life, read this book anyway. Enjoy it as a beautiful work of creativity.

Spring Fever

Are the children in your life a little more out of control than usual? Many people say it is Spring Fever. There are plenty of reasons children might be a little less focused this time of year. One of the most obvious choices is allergies. Allergies can make people feel irritable, sleepy, and have lack of attention. There is also the thought that the increased amount of light affects behavior. Birds know it is time to mate because of increased light, maybe someone we know it is time to come out from hibernation, eat, and socialize. No scientific evidence for that last part, but it is definitely true for my group, this year! Even if you don’t believe that theory, it could be that children are getting less sleep; often with more daylight, a lot of us stay up just a little later. Whatever it is, we need to help the children get through it and keep them focused on learning.

By spring, my class is ready for me to use the kind of humor in the book, Piggy Monday by Suzanne Bloom. In this story, the children go “hog wild” and forget all the lessons about manners that they learned earlier in the year and they turn into pigs! The Pig Lady comes and reminds the class of the things they need to do and the children all return to their former, well behaved selves. The most critical folks might be insulted that the whole class and teacher becomes swine, but children love the humor and are able to extract the message that goes with it.

Some days it seems as if the children in my class never stop talking. I haven't had a chance to use it, but I think “My Mouth is a Volcano” by Judy Cook sounds perfect.. The boy in this story has so many thoughts and as he tries to hold them in, they all erupt. This book is empathetic to the boy, but also teaches about interrupting. The story goes right along with our kindergarten visit, when Mrs. Shank told the group that sometimes you just have to think the words and not say them all. I’ve been using her message, quite a bit lately.

A few other tips:

Maintain consistency by sticking to your routine as much as possible and by following through on your expectations.

Add more movement into the day. When Mrs. Shank counted with her class, they stood up on every tenth number.

Encourage parents to help children get more sleep. Remind them of the research about the connection between lack of sleep and behavior problems.

Remember that allergies and their medications may influence attention. Use your best attention grabbing activities. Have the children work on projects that reflect their interests. Provide novel activities. Find out what motivates your children and provide that as a goal or reward. Work more in small groups.

Group work also gives more children opportunities to talk, just be sure to give them clear guidelines and responsibilities. Learning is a social activity so put that aspect to good use.

Have children write and draw about the things they want to tell others. After they do this, give them an opportunity to share their work with others. They get to think about what is on their mind and share it. You get to have them working on fine motor, literacy, and language skills.

Take time to slow down. I know, I feel the end of year push to do all the things we didn't get done and to teach the untaught lessons, so the children must feel it too. Slow down the pace as you and the children take time to appreciate the moment.

Last Day of School

For many children the end of school is fast approaching. Even if you have several more weeks of school left, it is not too early to begin discussing the changes which will be happening. Children have a difficulty understanding the concept of time which makes these changes even harder. Many children don't understand that they don't go straight from preschool to kindergarten. Here are a few tips to help children adjust to the change:

• Create a calendar or some other way to count down the days of school. You might make a chain with 30 links, and remove a link each day.
• Take time to help children review what they have done over the year and how they have grown. Help them see that they are ready to move on. Get out the photos from the first day and help children see how they have grown. If possible help them make a scrap book/photo album of the year.
• Ask parents to help by discussing with their children what will happen when school is over.
• Provide an opportunity for parents to exchange phone numbers or plan a summer play date or get together for the children.
• Teachers and other adults should let the children know what they will be doing when the children are not in school.
  
• Let the children help prepare the room for the end of the year. They can help take down artwork, gather belongings, and wipe off shelves.
  
• Have the children make a book for the next group of children.
  
• Visit the kindergarten where your children will be attending, if possible or ask someone from the school to visit. If neither of these is possible, take photos of the school, so children have some sort of idea of what to expect.
• Take time to talk about the changes and ask the children what they want to know about kindergarten or the coming changes. Do this more than once as the first discussion may spark more concerns.
• Try to maintain normalcy in the classroom routine right up to the last day. Do not pack up too much too early. Some children will be upset to see things in the room disappear.
• Make sure the last days are positive, so that the children leave school with a good feeling. That feeling may be the one thing they remember most about school.
• Give the children things to do in the days after school is over. Our children have sign in books. I will give these to the children and encourage them to continue signing in each day at home. Giving them a book will encourage reading. Having the local librarian get children excited about the library's summer reading program will give children something for which to look forward. This is especially true, if your class has developed a good relationship with the local children's librarian.
• Read books about the last day of school or saying goodbye. I have read Goodnight Moon to the children and had the children say goodbye to the things in the room. Here are a few other books to try:

Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg
When It's the Last Day of School by Maribeth Boelts
No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks! by Diane Degroat
Barker Twins: Last Day of School by Tomie de Paola, Ann Marie Harris
Miss Malarkey Doesn't Live in Room 10 by Judy Finchler
Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis

The Other Two

The other two books Bernice sent were Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie, by Norton Juster and Chris Raschka and Hug a Bug by Eileen Spinelli.

Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie is the story of a little girl who is sometimes quite pleasant and other times more of a grouch. The girl's moods quickly change and she sometimes seems not to know who she is. Children who struggle to control emotions will be relived to know that changing moods happen to others.This book presents a positive way to talk about a difficult topic. It is obvious that the girl in the story is loved and that is probably the best place to start. Let the child know you love her and then discuss things the child can do when she is feeling grouchy. It may even be appropriate for adults to talk about times when they behaved less well than they should have and steps they will take to remain calm. Role modeling and thinking out loud are powerful teaching tools. Children are such imitators at this age, that they are quick to act as adults do.
As nice as this book is for children, I think it would be a great read for parents and grandparents. They too need to know that it is not only their child who has times when he or she is not so nice. This book can help caregivers have a better understand of normal child development and would be a great conversation started of what to do to help the child and themselves get through those grouchy moods.

The other book, Hug a Bug is simply a warm fuzzy book. You might want to read it in conjunction with Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie and discuss how good a hug can make you feel. It would be easy to make a class book of who each child thinks gives the best hugs. If you want a lesson to go with this book, talk about appropriate hugs and touching. The main character in the book does not limit her hugs to family and close friends, so you could discuss who we hug and that some people don't want hugs. For myself, I think I would simply use it as feel good book to end the school day or to read at bedtime.

New Books!!

As much as I love old favorites, I can get pretty excited about a new book and Bernice just sent me four nice ones. The first Jibberwillies at Night by Rachel Vail and illustrated by Yumi Heo arrived last week. I decided the best way to find out if children would like it, was by reading it to my class. I started out by asking them what they were afraid of. They had plenty to say and did a good job listening to each other. By the middle of the book, I knew Bernice had picked a great one, because you could have heard a pin drop. At the end, they asked for it again. We followed up, by talking about things that help us feel better when we are afraid. I didn't do anything special, but it made me realize how seldom we take time to talk about being afraid. In the middle of the night, we can insist until dawn that monsters are not real, but just as we have a hard time reasoning when we are angry, being told there are no monsters, when we are scared, just doesn't work. The time to talk about these things is when we are all calm and rested. In the middle of the night, I go with the mom in this story, simply get a bucket, gather up those Jibberwillies and throw them out the window!

The other new book, I will share today is Twelve Terrible Things by Marty Kelley. As soon as you open the book, there is a warning which states that the book is full of terrible things and not to continue if you if don't want to see them. I have no doubt that the majority of the children will begging for the page to be turned. The illustrations are so wonderful that, there is little need for the few words of text describing the terrible things. Children will enjoy creating their own lists or pictures of terrible things and commiserating with others about which things are the most terrible. As I wrote that last sentence, I wondered if you can really enjoy commiserating, but most of us do just that and some how it makes us feel better to know we are not alone in our problems. Books like this will help children learn to take those everyday problems in stride.

One of Those Days

One of Those Days (2006) by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Rebecca Doughty immediately made me think of Judith Viorst’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972). Each page tells of a different kind of bad day, such as one when everyone is telling you no. The promise at the end of the book is that tomorrow we get to start over with a new day.

If you read this book to a group of children, it should quickly start a discussion of what makes a bad day and let children know that others often feel the same way and have bad days, too.Hearing others talk about how they got over that "bad day feeling" would help teach others coping skills. Children may want to draw a picture of their bad days and it would be easy to make a bad day class book. If you are a parent at home or working individually with a child, you could help him make his own book. As I write that, I am wondering do we want to record the bad days, but when we do, we validate the child’s feelings and later can look back and see that we were able to move forward. If a child draws his disappointment at not getting to go to the park because it is going to rain, but is able to overcome the disappointment and do something else, it will make it easier to overcome the next disappointment. It would increase the usefulness to take time to draw a picture of the good things too- even if the good stuff doesn’t happen until the next day. As the child looks back he might say, “We didn’t go to the park, but we measured the rain and got a whole cup full. We made rain paintings and cookies with the babysitter.” A book like this could help build a positive outlook, a sort of make lemonade out of lemons book.

Some children may have fun with a "bad picture" picture. We all know a few perfectionists and those children might have a good time making a bad picture. I've seen children get upset when their drawing doesn't turn out the way they want, so turn it around and have them make the worst picture they can. Some of those worst pictures ever, might turn out to be some great art. It could turn a stressful day into a fun day!

School Success

Research is now showing that engagement and persistence are among the various things that will determine school success. The more I think about it, I have to agree. A child will be much more likely to learn letters, if they can engage and persist in the task. A child will have a larger vocabulary, if they can be engaged in learning. So while alphabet knowledge is important, engagement and persistence comes first. Saying that is easy and possibly obvious to you, but how do we do it? How do we engage those children who cannot focus? How do we get those children who give up or switch tasks almost as soon as they begin, to persist?

I have come to believe that one way to help children learn to concentrate and focus is to provide them with routines. I believe that routines help children organize their minds and be less scattered in their thinking. Eliminating distractions can help too. Maybe not all the distractions because that is not the way the real world works, but major distractions. Turn off the TV when reading to children. Give children one thing to do at a time. Just because we adults are always trying to multitask, we shouldn't demand this of our children.

Teaching persistence will also help with engagement. When a child knows how to persist, he or she does not need to go on to something else when the task has some difficulty. Teach persistence through memory games, hidden picture searches, mazes, and recalling events of the day. Read to your child everyday, but as time goes on read longer and longer books. I know several 5 year olds, whose parents did this. These 5 year olds are happy to sit and listen to their parents read chapter books to them. Most importantly learn about the child and figure out how to encourage the child to continue, push them to keep trying by telling them you know they can do it. Don't be so quick to jump in and help. Help them handle minor upsets and go on. No I'm not suggesting you push children to do things they can't. We don't want them to fail, but keep in mind the old saying that success breeds success.

Sometimes one of the best things is to talk to children about the topic. Here are a few books to help start the conversation:

Tightrope Poppy and the High-Wire Pig by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Apple Batter byDeborah Turney Zagwyn
Pearl's New Skates by Holly Keller
Amandina by Sergio Ruzzier
I Am Really, Really Concentrating ( Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child

Cooperation

I think we could all agree that cooperation is an important social emotional skill. Even children who go on to become great leaders need to be able to cooperate with others. There are a number of good books which teach about cooperation, but Little Red Hen may be my favorite. I like the newer version Little Red Hen Makes Pizza by Philomen Sturges and Amy Walrod. It follows the traditional story line but in the end this hen allows the others to share in the pizza.


There are many good follow up activities to illustrate how cooperation pays off for everyone. Of course making a class pizza seems a natural activity, but you could make other recipes, if you don't have the facilities to make a pizza. In the past I had the children make a cooperative sandwich. We took a small sub roll and supplied a selection of items to place inside. The children had to figure out a way to make a sandwich which suited them both. You could have the children build a tower together or draw a picture together using one sheet of paper. You might consider pairing up children, especially in new situations and have them look out for each other or do a job such as moving a box together. I've often thought it would be good to do the jobs on the job chart in pairs. If you can, provide toys, activities, or games that work better when children cooperate. Toys like rocking boats are meant for use by two or more. If you are feeling more ambitious, plan a group party or project to carry out as a group. This would be even better if families were a part of the effort.


Every now and then a child will say that the teachers are not the boss, I try to tell her that quite often when we are asking the children to do this or that, it is for the benefit of all of us. I might use the example that if a teacher asks a child to walk, it is so all of the children can be safe. Take advantage of spur of the moment opportunities to address the topic.


Probably one of the most important things you can do is to model the skill you want the children to learn. Just as children learn language by hearing others speak, they learn social emotional skills by seeing them demonstrated. Children are constantly watching the adults in their lives. Make sure that they see you working together with the other adults ( and children) in your home or workplace. Sometimes I think you need to over emphasize these examples to make sure the point comes through to those children who find it more difficult to pick up on such clues.


If you would like to share your ideas about cooperation, please write them in the comment section.

Social Emotional Intelligence

How fortunate I was to be able to attend the Early Learning Forum in Harrisburg today. Dr. Pam Schiller was the speaker and if you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak, please do so. It will change how you look at the earliest years of a child's life. As Dr. Schiller spoke about the positive impact a few minutes of interaction made in the brains of neglected Romanian children, many of us had tears in our eyes. I thought I understood the Windows of Opportunity as they related to learning. I knew that young children can learn language better than older ones, but I never realized just how important those windows are on social emotional learning. I did not know about mirror neurons or realize just how important it is that the youngest of children see others displaying empathy. Dr. Schiller was so inspiring that I wanted to call my co-teacher and give her strategies to implement immediately. If I had called, I would have told her to be sure to instill confidence in the children by giving real praise for effort, by taking time to be fully engaged with each child if only for a moment, to demonstrate empathy and caring to the extreme, and much much more.
Dr. Schiller suggested some books we can use to build on her "Seven Key Ingredients of School Success." I hope to share some of these ingredients, the books that go with them, and ideas of how to use them during upcoming blogs. Right now? I need to reflect on how I can make my own classroom better using the information shared by Dr. Schiller.

No Matter What

I delight in great picture books and I found another one, sure to become a favorite. No Matter What by Emma Dodd is a very short, sweet, and comforting story of a parent's love for a child. Although this is a book of few words, the message is clear: It does not matter what you do, you are loved. It is perfect for the youngest preschooler, but should appeal to older ones as well. I think it would even be a great gift for a baby shower. If you want to use the book in your classroom, consider using it to help children describe all the ways they can be or feel. Create a book or poster with the prompt, "Our teachers (or appropriate caregiver) love us when we are.."

I Want Those Shoes!

I've got a couple of children in my classroom who regularly show me what new thing they got this week and tell me what they are going to buy the next time they go to the store. Each time they do, I cringe inside. I hate that 3, 4, and 5 year olds already feel they need to have everything they see on TV. You can imagine my delight to find Those Shoes, a book about a child whose grandmother says "We don't have any room for want, just need." The boy in this story wants shoes like the other boys in his class, but his grandmother knows he needs winter boots more. She helps him find a pair of "those shoes" at the thrift shop, but they are too small. The boys buys them, with his own money, but in the end gives them to another child who also longs to have the special shoes.
With so many families struggling financially, this book is perfect to help children begin to understand that sometimes, you have to do without. Those Shoes (2007) is written by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Noah Jones. Before reading the story, talk to the children about the difference between wanting and needing something. Discuss things they would like to have. After reading the story, you might list things people need and things people want. Depending on the ages of the children, you might want to set up a play store and give each child some money to spend. You might want to discuss ways to earn money and help children make piggy banks to save money. You might also want to have a day for families to trade gently used clothing. This can help teach children to recycle their things rather than throw them away. Even if most children have not felt the effects of the economy, it would be valuable for them to learn that not everyone is as fortunate.
I've always thought it was important for young children to learn about these things, but the topic may be more timely than ever.

Don’t Forget the Fun

I know these economic times bring significant stress to many families, but I want to encourage you to remember the fun. When adults are stressed it is often reflected in the children. One of the best antidotes for everyone is having fun as a family. Let me be very clear, I’m not talking about going out and buying a new toy! I’m talking about simply spending time with the children, not working on homework, not watching TV, not playing a video game, but simply spending time with children and talking with them. In a perfect world, this would be doing something the child wants, but I know that is hard for many adults. In reality, most kids will be happy just spending time with you, even if they don’t get to pick the activity. Maybe you can build a sand box, clean out the attic, play a board game, blow bubbles, read a big pile of books, make a homemade pizza, or take a walk together. When my husband was laid off work and I was pregnant with our second child, we probably did the dumbest thing there was to do. We packed up our tent and took our son on a trip to Yellowstone. We went as inexpensively as possible. But the point is we spent a lot of time together with him. It was a relation building activity and a memory maker. With higher gas prices, this might not be possible now, but if you happen to have some extra time on your hands, find a way to do something fun with your children. You’ll be glad you did!

A Different Kind of Picture Book- Helping Children Deal with Anger

Are you a parent who is struggling with a way to get your child’s anger under control? Or perhaps you know a child whose parent might benefit from help on the topic. If so, you may want to take a look at Josh’s Smiley Faces by Gina Ditta-Donahue and illustrated by Anne Catharine Blake. This book is written specifically to help parents teach their children about controlling anger. When you first look at the book, it looks like any other picture book. It is the story of a boy who gets angry, but the twist comes quickly when the mom in the story tells him the consequences of his actions and then comes up with a plan of how to help him remember to use words when angry.

The last three pages of the book include notes to parents about controlling anger and how to implement the same Smiley Face Program at home.The Smiley Face Program is a way to reward children when they use words. After earning a predetermined number of smiley faces, the child gets a special treat. The treat was also decided beforehand so there are no surprises and the child knows what he or she is working towards.

The book is available in through the Franklin County Library System.

Let's Pretend

I'm taking my class to Florida this week. Just the two teachers and 18 three, four, and five year olds. We will be leaving by airplane on Tuesday morning. While we are there, we hope to get some beach time, go to the horse races, ride a boat and a dolphin, find shells, and see an alligator. We are all quite excited and the best thing is the trip will cost us nothing. You see, we are pretending. We've convinced just about everyone. We've even had a few parents ask,"Just where are you going on this field trip?" I can't wait until the director finds out- she told me to limit field trips due to the cost of gasoline.


You might be wondering why should we bother. A trip to Florida, even an imaginary one is a lot of work. Yes, it is, but it is also well worth the effort. Did you ever notice that the children who are the most socially emotionally competent are often the great at pretend play? I have no scientific study to show you, but many times it works out that way. Did you ever see a shy child who loves to pretend with an imaginary friend? My guess is she is practicing for the real world. Children learn a lot about how the world works during pretend play. They learn how to interact with others, what to expect from others, how to proceed through daily activities. They can practice emotions in a safe environment. When we leave for Florida, we will be able to wave good bye to home knowing that at the end of the day, we will be back in our own beds. The children will be able to safely experience what it might be like to stay in a motel or tent. They can listen as others talk about going in the water, playing in the sand, and waiting for a turn to play golf. It is not only the social emotional skills, the opportunities for learning in all areas are enormous. Vocabulary building, understanding the purpose of reading and writing, and using using math skills are only a few of our objectives for this trip.


I've noticed that some of our children don't get as much pretend play as others. These are the children who need it most. Vivian Paley said we need to find a way to pull all the children into the life of the class. When you do a class experience such as this, it is easy to pull them in. They will get on the imaginary plane and be served food by the stewardess. We can coax these children along and they may receive even more of the benefits than those who are already good at pretend play.



Of course you don't have to go clear to Florida to have a class pretend experience, some years we go on a camping trip. Later this year, we will put on a circus. Just the other week, we invited another class to a tea party. And parents can do the same thing at home. Capitalize on your child's interest by taking a trip to the moon, back in time to see the dinosaurs, or to the farm.

So don't wait for the weather to provide a cure for cabin fever, provide your own imaginary diversion. Meanwhile watch your mailbox. There should be a lot of postcards from Florida in the mail next week.

How to Heal a Broken Wing

How to Heal a Broken Wing is a new book by Bob Graham. It is the simple story of a boy noticing and then caring for an injured bird. The words are few and the author uses the pictures to tell the story. He makes us stay a little longer on each page as we look from picture to picture to see the what is happening. In our busy world, full of worries about germs, I'm not sure people actually help injured birds anymore. It is for that and other reasons, I think this book is very important. The book helps the us all slow down and absorb the message of compassion. We need to take time to be sure this message is heard because young children are certainly bombarded with other messages. Children as young as 4 and 5 are playing video games filled with violence. Just the other day, a boy was proudly telling me that he "shot my mom's legs off and then I shot her in the head." Reading this book won't turn the world around, but for just a moment, it will at least give our students another perspective..



You may not be able to follow up in the classroom setting by caring for an injured bird, but there are many other ways to help children develop caring and compassion.



Take photos of children in your classroom being kind and caring. Photos are a powerful way to visually remind children of the behaviors we want to reinforce.



Sing songs or say a poem or pledge about caring. Music cares a message that stays with us for many years.



Create a kindness tree or wall and when someone does something especially kind post it. I've even had parents help with this by sending in things that happened at home. I know some experts say that the specific child should not be recognized only the action, but I can see benefits of either way. Just make sure everyone gets recognized!



Plan a project to help others or the environment. Collect pennies for a cause and then purchase and give the items to the person or organization. Write letters to someone who is sick. Plant flowers or a tree at the local library or playground. My friend started a garden at her school. She told me how amazing it was to watch them learn to care for the things they had planted and make sure others did not walk on or destroy the plants.



Have a kindness helper. This may sound silly to you, but I did this for years in my classroom and it was one of the most popular jobs. The kindness person was to watch for kind acts and then at the appointed time, he or she would come to the front of the group and tell us about the kindness he or she saw. We used a play microphone to make the time more special. I think we also used a badge or a special hat too. Others were also invited to also tell of kind acts. Then before the kindness person sat down, he or she had to pull a question from the special box and tell us what we should do. The questions revolved around what to do if someone fell and was hurt, if someone had a toy you wanted, how to help someone with and problem and so on. We cheered loudly for the answer and continued the discussion about the topic as long as I thought was appropriate.





I encourage you to share your ideas about how to spread an attitude of caring and compassion in the comment section.

Book Resource

I wanted to share a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to find a children's book on a certain topic. It is called NoveList K-8 Plus and you access it over the Internet, through your local library. I find it by going to the Lilian S. Besore Library website. I click on Power Library. I am then asked to put in my library card number. Once I do that a wealth of resources appears. The one I use most is NoveList K-8 Plus. If you want to find a book about being afraid, type in" afraid" and a whole list of books on that topic appears. In the advance search you can limit your search to books by grade level, fiction or non fiction, author, Lexile reading level, and other options.

I typed in ADHD and searched for books for younger children. A book Booming Bella by Carol Ann Williams came up as one of three options. It looks like a great book and with just a click, I was able to find out which libraries in Pennsylvania have it in their collection.

If you are not part of the Franklin County Library System, ask your local librarian how you can find this great resource. Give it a try. I think you will like it as much as I do.

Ballerino Nate

Ballerino Nate is by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley with pictures by R. W. Alley. Nate loves ballet, but his brother discourages him. He tells Nate that only girls can be ballerinas. He says that if Nate takes ballet class, he will have to wear pink shoes and a dress. Still Nate is very determined and he goes to ballet class. It is full of girls, but no one makes him wear pink shoes and a dress. Later his mom takes him to a real ballet and Nate gets to see men dancing in the show.

Even children as young as three and four are starting to figure out what it means to be a boy or a girl. Books like this will help them avoid stereotypes that could hamper their willingness to try new activities or that might cause them to make fun of children that they see as different.

After reading this book, it would be fun for all the children to try out some ballet or other dance moves. If there is a dance school in your area, see if a man would come in and show the children some easy dance steps.

Hippo Goes Bananas

When we were first married, my husband and I occasionally argued because he thought he knew what I wanted. I should have had this book to help him understand that things may not always be the way they appear. In the book Hippo Goes Bananas by Marjorie Dennis Murray, poor Hippo has a terrible toothache and starts tearing down the trees in the jungle. The other animals assume he is”going bananas” and then think he must be too hot. They take action to help him, but is it really what he needs? This fun story will help children begin to understand that there may be something more behind the actions of a person. Children would probably enjoy taking turns pretending to be Hippo and the other animals who could ask, “Is there something wrong?” and, “How can I help?” They could even act out an alternative ending to the story now that they have asked the questions and listened to Hippo’s answer.

Being a Grandparent and a Parent

I've been meeting more and more grandparents who are taking on the role of parents. I've also been learning what a big job this is. While grandparents often have lots of wisdom that younger parents don't have, it does not mean the job is without much stress. Quite frequently, when grandchildren go to live with grandparents, it is because of some type of problem in the parent's home, so the children are already at a disadvantage. Grandparents must deal with their own health problems and limitations. Some of them may be taking care of their own parents or still have older teenagers in the home. If a young child is living with a teen who is having some behavior issues, the young child often picks up on those behaviors. This only touches the surface of many of the problems which can arise.


It makes me want to go hide my head under a pillow when I think of everything these folks are dealing with. As usual I have no answers, but if you are a neighbor of friend of one of these individuals, offer to give them a break and help out in anyway you can. If you are a grandparent serving as a parent, below are a few tips which just might help.

• Find a support system. Some communities have grandparent support groups. Have a friend or neighbor, you can call for help.

• Take a parenting class. I know you know quite a bit about raising children, but times have changed. There is new information about what is appropriate for kids. You might be surprised that some of the things you worried about just aren't important.

• Attend library programs aimed at helping teach young children and parents about literacy. There is a lot you can do to get your child ready for kindergarten. You might even ask the library to start a special program just for grandparents.

• There are also new dangers that we never thought of with our own kids so take advantage of other community programs. In our area Rep. Rock is having a Family Day which will feature expert information on topics of interest, including: Child Car Seat Inspections/Installations;Child Fingerprinting for ID purposes; Crime Solvers, featuring McGruff the Crime Dog; Bicycle Rodeo (bring helmet); and Franklin County Drug and Alcohol Specialist. It will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Greencastle-Antrim Middle School.

• Look for resources on the Internet. Here are a few sites to get you started:

http://www.aarp.org/families/grandparents/raising_grandchild

http://ohioline.osu.edu/ss-fact/0157.html

http://www.grandparenting.org

• Whatever you do, take time to take care of yourself. Take time to do the things you like to do. If the job becomes too much or you begin to feel resentful, get some professional help. You cannot help your grandchildren if you are constantly stressed about your situation. Get help early.

If you have some tips to help grandparents, know of resources, or simply would like to talk about the topic, please feel free to leave a comment.

More about Friends

Friends can be a complicated issue for many preschoolers. At times it can be hard for some children to make friends. Some children threaten to not be a friend if things don’t go their way. Other preschoolers have difficulty understanding that you can have more than one friend. Being a new child in school can be especially difficult for some children. The following books may help children in your class build their understanding of being a friend and accepting new friends..
Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes is the story of two friends who do not want to play with the new girl in the neighborhood. One day the new girl rescues the boys from some older boys. From that point on, the boys are glad to have her around. After reading this book, help the children recall the things Chester and Wilson enjoyed together and if Lily could have played with them. Discuss things the children in the class like to do with friends. You might want to plan some special projects which groups of three could do.
The New Friend by Charlotte Zolotow (1968) is the story of two friends who do everything together until one day, one of the girls gets a new friend, The girl who is left out tells us how sad she is. There is not happy ending which leaves it open for children to suggest solutions to her problem. Great to use in small groups or individually to help children deal with the problem of losing a friend or build empathy for others.
The New Girl by Jacqui Robbins (2006) is the story of a new girl in class. One of the class members volunteers to be the new girl’s friend but this is not as easy as we might expect. The teacher in the story talks about making the new girl feel “at home.” This could be a great book to use when you know there will be a new child entering the class. The children could discuss/draw how they could make a new child feel “at home.” They might also make some other special preparation for the new girl. Children could help the teacher place new name tags, help find a spot for her belongings or even make posters welcoming the child.
Best, Best Friends by Margaret Chodos-Irvine is a short simple story of two girls who are best friends until one gets mad at the other. This story is good for helping children understand that friends can get mad and still remain friends. Let children talk about times they got mad at their friends and then help them find ways they can make up with them. Children know they get mad, but may not be sure of what to do next. Help them brainstorm ideas of things to do when one friend is mad.
Other books about friendship include:
Loudmouth George and the New Neighbors by Nancy Carlson (1983)

Earl’s Too Cool for Me by Leah Komaiko (1988)

Friends

Enemy Pie and Recess Queen are books which encourage children to try being nice to others who they think they don’t like. Each teacher will have to decide if these books are appropriate for his or her class. Recess Queen (2002) by Alexis O’Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith is the story of a class bully and how she is befriended by a new girl. Mean Jean is used to bossing the other children around, but Katie Sue doesn’t know about Mean Jean’s reputation. When Katie Sue invites Mean Jean to jump rope with her, she changes how others see Mean Jean.

In Enemy Pie (2002), by Derek Munson. a boy tells his dad he doesn’t like the new boy in the neighborhood. Dad suggests an Enemy Pie. Part of the Enemy Pie plan is to be nice to the new boy, so that he will eat the pie. While playing together, the two boys find they like each other. Turns out the Enemy Pie was really a Friendship Pie.

There are many threes and young fours who may not get the meaning of these books, but for older preschool and kindergarten children they are just right to start a discussion about getting to know others before deciding to you don’t like someone. Teachers might want to share a personal story about friendships with people they thought they wouldn’t like. You may even want to make Friendship Cookies with the class. Find out what kinds of things the children think would make a good Friendship Cookie. If the recipe is simple enough, you could make it each time you have a new child join your class.

For younger, as well as older children, the book Friends by Rob Lewis is more direct. Oscar doesn’t think any of the other rabbits would make good friends, but once he tried doing things they liked to do, he found they were all good friends and happy to do what he wanted to do- go swimming. A good book to open a discussion about how to make friends. Children could come up with some ideas of things friends might want to do together. They might also want to make a drawing of the things they like to do such as play outside, build with blocks. If you graph or chart this, children may find there are many others who like to do the same thing as they do.p>

Don't Forget!

Did you ever forget something important? Sure you did. It happens to all of us, adults as well as children. An new book about a boy named Oscar, will help children see that others also make mistakes. Knowing they aren't the only ones in this situation, helps perfectionists, be more accepting of their errors and feel better about themselves. In the case of Oscar, he forgets to deliver the notes about the town picnic because of his daydreaming. He finds a way to fix the problem and everyone has a great time. Oscar is the main character in the story, Super Oscar by Oscar DeLaHoya. I like this book for a number of reasons: It has both Spanish and English text. The author has a page at the back of the book encouraging children to exercise like Oscar. The story opens the door to conversations about ways to fix problems and that we all make mistakes. The children may be surprised to know that teachers make mistakes too, so be sure to share some of yours. If appropriate, you might discuss solutions to mistakes which have happened in the classroom. You might talk about spilling a drink or taking a possession of a classmate in error. If your children enjoy class made books consider making a forgetting book where children draw add write about a time they forgot something. It could be even more fun to talk about times when an adult forgot something important to the child. The idea that mistakes are not intentional is often a difficult concept for children.

Inservice on Bullying

Lee Ann shared this information about bullying in schools. I thought some of you might also be interested and so I am passing it on to you.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education is sponsoring a teleconference on Tackling Bullying in Today's Schools

When:
March 20, 2009
Location:
PaTTAN-Pittsburgh
PaTTAN-Harrisburg
PaTTAN-King of Prussia
Various downlink sites across the state

Time:
1:00 - 3:00 pm

Description:
In today's school climate, bullying has moved outside the classroom and the playground into cyberspace. With all students at risk, learn about the social and educational impact of bullying and the programs and policies in place to combat them.

Presenter:
Ted Feinberg, Former Assistant Executive Director, National Association of School Psychologists
Target Audience:
Special educators, regular educators, administrators, guidance counselors, parents, and others interested in learning about cyberbullying.

You may register directly on-line by visiting www.pattan.net and entering the Registration On-line page.

General Registration Information and Questions:
Kristen Olszyk at 412-826-6848 or kolszyk@pattan.net

Kisses and Hugs

This is the time of year, many of us like to read some books about love. Bernice sent a delightful book called Mama's Kisses, by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Daniel Baxter, which would be appropriate not only now, but anytime of the year. If you have ever thrown a kiss to someone, you will most likely enjoy this story. More importantly, so will the receiver of kisses. And, if you have been the thrower of many kisses you have probably been told at least once that the kiss missed. This book solves the mystery of what happens to the missed kisses. Read this book, not for the educational value, but for relationship building. If you want to do a follow up activity, you can have the children draw a picture of where they think those missing kisses go.

Another love story which I often pull out at this time of year is Eve Bunting's The Valentine Bears. The story is best read in small groups or individually since the pencil drawn pictures are full of detail, but little color. I like the story because Mr. and Mrs. Bear demonstrate what a loving, caring relationship looks like.

There are so many good books available about love, I'm sure you have your favorites, still if you want to try out a different one, check out the ones below.

The simple almost wordless book, Hug by Jez Alborough will appeal to the youngest children, but also entice older preschoolers.


The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning and Valeri Gorbachev is the story of a hug which is passed from person to person.

Loving by by Ann Morris and Ken Heyman, shows the way parents around the world express their love for their children.

Taking a Bath with the Dog

Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy, by Scott Menchin, is a new book I found at Besore Library. This book was just begging me to take it off the shelf and I am so glad I did. The story line is very simple. A little girl is unhappy. She asks others what makes them happy and by the end of the story, she knows what makes her happy too. There is a subtle message that when one person is happy, you can influence the way others feel too.
I would use this book to discuss how we can turn around sad feelings. I might send children off to find out what makes the people and pets in their family happy or we could just make our own book of happiness.

Importance of Routine and Clear Expectations

This week, experiences with two friends reminded me just how important knowing what is expected and following a routine is to some people. While some adults embrace change, many have difficulty with it. I probably fit somewhere in between. I like variety and some change. I can be impulsive and drop everything, if a more interesting offer comes along. My one friend has made it very clear that if she has not had it planned for some time, it is not going to happen. I could call tell her that we could have dinner with the president if we left now, and she would turn me down without a second thought. In many ways she is like another friend who has difficulty if she is not sure of expectations. Working in a situation, in which expectations are not clear, will cause her to simply spin her wheels. I'm sure both of these friends would become physically ill should they be placed in uncertainty for a length of time.


I imagine that by now, you have figured out where I am going with this. Just as many adults need routine and clear expectations, so do children. Maybe even more so than adults. At a recent meeting about behavior problems, it was pointed out to me that children who live in uncertainty often appear to be ADHD. Their behaviors are a reflection of the lifestyle they are living.


As I reflected about my friends, I could see just how difficult these situations would be for children. Just as my friend felt she had no idea of what to do and no control over the changes, children must feel the same way. Just as my other friend finds security and control in a routine, so must children. It is easy for me to understand some of the attitudes children might develop from living with uncertainty for a years. I imagine it could range from withdrawal to "I'm going to do what I want to do since I don't understand what I am suppose to do."


As caregivers and teachers, it is so important to have a routine and prepare children for changes in that routine. It is equally important that we tell children our expectations. And quite often that telling is not enough, we need to show them, let them practice it, and test it. We need to be there to help them when they are not successful, just as we would want our mentors to help us when we do not understand the changes they are asking u to make.

Social Emotional Needs of Special Needs Children

As is often the case, I have more questions than answers on the topic of social emotional needs of children with an exceptionality. I could learn and write about this topic for the rest of the year and still only glaze the surface. I want to make the effort to bring it up because it is so important. It is important to the child with the need just as it is to the children who are interacting ( or as is often the case, not interacting) with the child. It fits in with the topic of diversity because part of diversity is helping children learn about and accept others. If children can be accepting of children with an exceptionality, it will be easy to transfer those skills to people who speak another language, look different, or have different customs.

I used to think that preschoolers were pretty accepting and they often are, but not always. As time goes on they can loose interest in the child whose speech is not understandable, or decide not to play with the child whose hyperactivity disrupts their play. I've seen children, who otherwise have exceptional social skills refuse to hold the hand of a child who has a slight deformity. Is it because of the deformity, because the child's lack of speech skills or the behavior of the child in class? Probably a little of each. And the action of other children affects the way the child with the special need feels about him or herself.

Social emotional assistance should always be considered when we are determining the needs of a young child with a a special need. It is important to find ways for the child with articulation difficulties to communicate with others. So often teachers are told to teach children to use their words when there is a conflict, but when a child is physically unable to do this, the advise often sounds something like this, "It will get better when the child's speech catches up." That cannot be an acceptable answer. We've got to find a way to make an effort to teach the group sign language, use picture cards or whatever is necessary to help that child be a part of the group. Leann taught us at the Governor's Institute to use social stories and I think that is a valuable start. There are a number of websites which can give you more information on using social stories with children but I think the following is one of the best: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel/practicalstrategies.html
Marisa Macy, assistant professor of special education, at Penn State suggests teachers use the strategy of embedding social-emotional instruction throughout the day. If you would like to learn more about her work, you can go to: http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/news/news-items-folder/embedding


Here are a few books which may help your class be more accepting of differences in others:

Zoom! by Robert Munsch

Susan Laughs Jeanne Willis

Leo the Late Bloomer Robert Kraus

Friends at School by Rochelle Bunnett

We Can Do It, by Laura Dwight
My Friend Isabelle (Hardcover) by Eliza Woloson

As I said when I started, I have a lot more questions than answers. Please share your thoughts and help me and others help all the children in our lives increase their social emotional skills.

Gun Play-Looking for Answers

I am struggling with what to do about gun play in my classroom. I know the standard answers are, "We don't play with guns, in our school." or "Guns are not toys." I think the issue is a bit more complex. It could be that my vision is clouded by the fact that as a young girl, I pretended to be Annie Oakley, a sharp shooter in the Wild West Show. No one, who knows me now, would suspect I used to wear a holster with two guns and a cowboy hat. Times have changed, but children still have an interest in pretending with guns.




Right now the gun play in my class is not all "bad guy" play. It is related to family members being in the military and families in which adults hunt for food. When a child has a parent serving in the Army, he often wants to role model that parent. I allow other children to role model their parents, but am I to say to this child that he cannot? As a country, we recognize and praise those who are serving in the military, but children in the classroom are told it is not ok to play soldier. This sends a very conflicting message. I allow other negative topics such as house fires and doctors who have patients that die, but not gun play. Am I giving more power to the gun play because of my stance?




I feel that teaching the children that soldiers do much more than shoot guns is part of the solution, but that is not enough. I'm "thinking out loud" as I write this, but maybe it would be positive to have a class meeting on the topic of guns and soldiers. I sometimes avoid these topics, wishing not to worry children who have not been exposed to such topics. How silly of me, when several of the boys are spending as much time as possible figuring out how to get away with gun play. "It is just a bubble machine gun." "It's not a gun, just a water shooter." It could be that recognizing the child and his dad's job might be the best way to handle the situation. We could talk about our respect for those serving in the military, but at the same time point out that none of the children in the room are enemies. Some children might express their feelings and as a group we might be able to work through these things. The child who wants to emulate his dad would feel proud and and yet at the same time he could hear why others ( the teachers) did not want gun play in the room. We could talk about the end of goal of soldiers is to bring peace. It might not solve the problem, but it could give me insight into what he and the other children are feeling. It could be a starting place.




Please share your thoughts on this topic. I need all the wisdom you have to offer!

Appreciating Differences-Non-Fiction Books

Probably my favorite non-fiction book, for helping children learn about other, is Children Just Like Me by Anabel Kindersley and Barnabas Kindersley. The authors traveled around the world learning about children and then putting bits and pieces of their life in the book. This isn’t a book you would read all in one day, but you could take a month and meet a new child each day. Children will see photos of other children their age and learn about their families, what they like to eat, their school and their pets. There is no stereotyping as there is in so many books, just real children from all kinds of families and backgrounds. Children can then make drawings of themselves and what they like. Display these in the room, so they can discover similarities and differences within their own class.


I also like the Around the World series of books, most by Ann Morris and Ken Heyman. They include Bread, Bread, Bread, Houses and Homes, Shoes, Shoes, Shoes, Play, Families, Tools, On the Go, and Loving. These simple books show clear photos and are appropriate for the youngest preschoolers. After reading one of these, the children can share info about themselves. With the book Bread, Bread, Bread, it would be good to have various breads available for the children to try. Part of social emotional growth is being open to trying new things.

Appreciating Differences

As children grow, they begin to notice that not everyone is just like themselves. It is important to help them to learn about others. I will start the month with 2 fiction books which help with the topic and then add some nonfiction which are also appropriate for young children.

The Jellybeans and the Big Dance by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger (2007) is a great story to help children appreciate the differences in others and build a sense of community. The main character, Emily, is disappointed to find that the other girls in her new dance class are very different from what she expected. In the end though, it is the differences which makes for a happy ending. After reading and discussing this book, plan a project in which the children can share their talents. You might plan a special day, a show or make a class garden. No matter what you do, make sure the children each contribute their special abilities. If you want a simpler project ask children to bring ingredients for a recipe such as bread or cookies. Discuss how all the ingredients work together to make a delicious treat. Another simple activity would be to talk about how each child contributes to the classroom or how family members contribute to the family. Thank you to Bernice for recommending the book. If you have a good story to build social emotional skills, please share it with us.

Elmer by David McKee. Elmer is a brightly colored elephant who wishes to plain gray, just like the others elephants. The story shows Elmer’s effort to fit in, but in the end, he realizes the elephants like him just the way he is. After reading this story, I usually give the children a large elephant ( sometimes finger paint paper, other times construction paper) to decorate or paint. Each child is encouraged to use his own ideas to create an elephant, but children could also work together on one elephant. We then admire all the elephants and appreciate them and their creators. This is a great way to teach about differences and also build a sense of community.